EDUCATION officials have defended their method of consulting parents over a controversial school merger.

Darlington Borough Council has revealed plans to amalgamate the Corporation Road nursery, infant and junior schools.

The proposals have been sent to the Secretary of State for Education and, if they are approved, a single Corporation Road Primary School would be created.

But, as reported in The Northern Echo yesterday, many angry parents are challenging the move - because they feel they were not properly consulted.

They are planning to raise the issue with local councillor, Eleanor Lister, later this week.

But Councillor Lister, who is also the authority's cabinet member for education, said: "It is essential to amalgamate those schools because of falling numbers. To keep the nursery and others going, we need them under one management.

"In the past, a child could start nursery and have three different headteachers and three different ways of working by the age of seven."

Defending the borough council's consultation process, she said: "Consultation has been going on for the last two months - there were 'at homes' with various officials and representatives of the schools.

"Nothing has been done that is underhand or that has not been going on for a long time."

If all goes according to plan, the new school will open next April.