VILLAGERS in Sedgefield and the surrounding communities will get the chance to help draw up a wish-list for their secondary school.

Sedgefield Community College is one of seven schools in County Durham included in the county's first phase bid to the Government for up to £150m of funding.

From today, anyone with an interest in the school will be asked what sort of facilities they would like to see if they could demolish them and start again.

A questionnaire has been set up on the Durham County Council web site so that anyone with an interest can respond.

The aim is to end up with a new generation of multi-purpose learning centres providing a full range of community, cultural, and one-stop-shop facilities.

The Government plans to go about it through a ten to 15-year programme of replacement, improvement and renewal and will make £2.2bn available nationally in 2005/06.

Sedgefield headteacher Lynn Ackland described it as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

The school has a wide catchment area, which includes pupils from the Trimdon villages, Fishburn, West Cornforth, Kelloe, Coxhoe and Bishop Middleham.

Mrs Ackland urged as many people as possible to express their views.

She said: "I think it is absolutely fantastic for learning because the environment in something that is really important.

"It'll be a dream come true if it happens and will add ten per cent to out GCSE grades.

"We serve quite a large community and these are the people we really need to respond because they can really get a lot out of this."

Responses can be made through Durham County Council's website, which can be found at www.durham.gov.uk.

Anyone who does not have Internet access can contact the school on (01740) 625300.