A CIVIC commemoration to an educational pioneer ignores one of the two schools he founded in his adopted city, a senior teacher claims.

The City of Durham Trust today unveils a commemorative plaque at 56 Claypath, the former home of James Finley Weir Johnston.

The Scottish-born scientist and scholar founded a small academy in the building, where he lived from 1826 until his death in 1855.

From his bequest the larger Johnston Technical School, was built at the foot of South Street, splitting into boys' and girls' schools in 1913.

It was a forerunner of the present Durham Johnston, on split sites at Crossgate Moor and Whinney Hill in the city.

This is acknowledged on the plaque, which reads: "James Finley Weir Johnston. Applied scientist and scholar lived here 1826-55. From his bequest was founded the Durham Johnston School".

But this has angered Brian Hunter, deputy head at nearby Durham Sixth Form Centre, who said his school also originates from the Johnston Technical School.

He said: "From the split we have derived from the girls' school, whereas the existing Johnston emerged from the boys' side. We feel that Johnston was as much our founder as the Johnston School.

"We used to have a founder's day service at Croxdale, where he was buried in the churchyard." The school was also given a bust of Johnston in the 1930s, which it still has.

But Dr Douglas Pocock, the trust's honorary secretary, said:"I accept fully what Mr Hunter says. The fact remains that the wording on the plaque is accurate and unbiased.

"I will put an addendum in the next trust bulletin to point out the link with the girls' school and subsequently the Sixth Form Centre."

The plaque will be unveiled at 11.15am today.