DARLINGTON is putting itself at the cutting edge by embarking on a venture to establish a £34.9m education village by 2005.

The borough council has drawn up an outline business case to rebuild Haughton Comprehensive, Beaumont Hill Technology College and Springfield Primary School on the Haughton site.

The Private Finance Initiative package includes plans for a new Harrowgate Hill Infants school next to its junior school.

Geoff Pennington, director of education, told the D&S Times: "As far as we know, there is nothing like it, certainly in England. We coined the term education village.

"It has attracted quite a lot of attention from the Department for Education and Skills already and it is likely to do so nationally, it is so innovative."

The council believes its bold vision will have companies competing to build and manage the project over a 25-year period.

"For us and the partner we eventually end up with, it would be quite a milestone in development in education for the twenty-first century," said Mr Pennington..

"We are building for the twenty-first century, with all the modern technology required for that. Overall, we are getting a better deal by doing this than refurbishing, otherwise we wouldn't have gone ahead with it.

"This will put us right at the forefront of new practices and all discussions with the present heads show they are up for this and relishing the challenge."

There are talks about having one governing body for the three schools at Haughton, to ensure cohesion without destroying their own identities.

"There are signs that the schools accept that and they are working through some of the practicalities."

Appointing an overall head teacher or manager for the village has yet to be discussed.

It is hoped health, social services and further education agencies will bring capital investment into the scheme.

They would serve not only the schools - with an emphasis on children with special needs or at risk of exclusion - but also the wider community.

The unique school campus would also give Beaumont Hill the opportunity to make a radical break away from special school isolation.

Discussions are being held with Sport England to see if it would like to be involved financially.

A report to Thursday's full council meeting says the acid test of whether it can afford the deal on the table will come at the preferred bidder-contract signature stage.

But Paul Wildsmith, financial director, said he was already looking at ways to meet a possible shortfall in funding of about £870,000 a year.

The business case must be forwarded to DfES before December 11 to meet deadlines.