AN important milestone has been reached in the creation of a new school in Hartlepool.

From September, Henry Smith School will become a Church of England voluntary aided school.

The seal has been set on this transformation after the new school's governing body agreed that its name would be changed to St Hild's Church of England Voluntary Aided School.

The name, which will come into effect in September, is based on the Anglo-Saxon version of the name St Hilda, who was born in the year 614, and was the Abbess of Hartlepool.

The name was proposed by Father Philip North, who is chairman of the school's governing body, and vicar of the Parish of Holy Trinity and St Mark's, in Hartlepool.

He said: "We wanted to have a new name firstly to show that the school is making an exciting new beginning.

"We feel that St Hild is particularly appropriate for several reasons. St Hilda was in many ways the patron saint of Hartlepool, and under her leadership, the monastery on the Headland became a great centre of learning.

"More importantly still, St Hilda was renowned for her ability to see the potential and the gifts which other people possessed, and helping them to develop their potential."

Under the voluntary-aided arrangement, the normal funding for the school will still come via the Local Education Authority, which will also continue to monitor performance and standards of education.

It was felt the Diocese of Durham would be better placed to secure funding to improve the school's buildings and facilities, and develop it on a single site, rather than being split by King Oswy Drive, as at present.

The Government has approved a £7.6m building programme, which will transform the learning environment of the school during the next two years.