A NEW school created out of a shake-up of primary education services in Spennymoor was officially opened last week.

The £1.34m development of North Park Primary followed the controversial merger of the 12-year-old North Road Junior and Bessemer Park Nursery and Infant Schools last year.

It is housed in adapted and extended premises on the old Bessemer Park site, where a new building links the old infant and nursery blocks.

Infant and junior accommodation is in two separate wings where there are new classrooms, an IT suite and a junior library.

The development, which will save local education authority Durham County Council £130,000 a year, includes a new main entrance and new office space.

Education secretary David Blunkett approved the merger two years ago when existing schools had 339 places for just 211 children.

Earlier, North Road pupils Sarah Ball, then ten, and classmate Jade White had made a personal plea to Prime Minister Tony Blair to block the move, calling at Downing Street to deliver a petition on their way back from a school trip to Paris.

North Road's governors asked Mr Blunkett to send an independent adjudicator to examine the case for keeping it open, while governors at Bessemer Park infants also objected.

Once the decision was made, staff at all schools made efforts to help the children get to know their new classmates and headteacher Christine Clough is pleased that pupils have settled in well.

She said: "The children who attend North Park Primary School can expect to receive an education which meets the needs of the 21st century.

"We have excellent facilities, particularly our purpose built ICT suite, well motivated, highly skilled teachers and friendly children, all encompassed in a warm and caring environment."

Coun Neil Foster, who represents Tudhoe on Durham County Council and is the cabinet member for education unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening.

He said: "I firmly believe that this educational development will represent major benefits for pupils, both now and in future years."