Planning consent will pave the way for the building of a £10m Church of England-backed school, on part of Ryhope Golf Course, on the Sunderland side of the boundary with County Durham.

The brief for architects was to bring together the best ideas to save energy, re-use resources, and ensure buildings are cost-effective and sustainable.

Planned like a small town rather than a traditional school, it will have 23 general classrooms, seven laboratories, six music rooms, five specialist teaching rooms, a drama studio and expandable teaching wings.

All will have cost-effective materials, thermal energy and underfloor heating, plus natural ventilation.

Other options being considered include using recycled rainwater for flushing toilets and a reed farm for purification, while a small wind turbine and solar panels could become valuable teaching aids, as well as eco-friendly assets to the school.

Apart from a range of sports facilities, plans for the school grounds include a butterfly garden, other specialised gardens, plus areas reserved for bulb planting and an arboretum.

There will also be sun terraces at different levels, with plans for the growth of organic fruit and vegetables for use in cookery lessons.

Part of the cafeteria is to be outside, to allow for al fresco eating when the climate near the North Sea coast permits.

The 900-pupil, six class intake school, is scheduled to open, in part, by September next year.