A PLAN to move an entire primary school has been unveiled.

Parents of the 600 children at Ingleby Mill School in Ingleby Barwick, near Yarm, are to be consulted in the coming weeks.

Stockton Borough Council wants to transfer all pupils and staff to a £5.5m school being built on Low Lane, half a mile away. The current site would be refurbished and used by children expected to move into the area when a new estate is built.

Council officers are expecting a strong, negative reaction from parents of children who live near the school.

However, Councillor Alex Cunningham, cabinet member for education and culture, was convinced most people would come round to the idea.

He said: "We would expect parents to understand that this will actually benefit everyone. We will have full consultation and have already arranged for two meetings with parents.

"The current school is massively oversubscribed with pupils in temporary classrooms and we have 336 pupils having to leave Ingleby Barwick each day. Any inconvenience would be outweighed by a new school and a refurbished school."

Ward councillor for the area Jennie Beaumont said she would be seeking more information and would consult parents before passing judgement on the plan.

Coun Beaumont said: "I think the main thing is to ensure there is a very extensive consultation and everyone has the chance to have their say. I would say that it is definitely true that Ingleby Barwick needs another school."

It is hoped the current school will re-open as a refurbished 420-place school in January, 2006.

The planned new school will provide 630 primary places.

Ingleby Barwick has grown massively in recent years and it is expected there will be a demand for 2,000 primary school places by 2008.

There are currently five primary schools in the area.