A PROMISE made 25 years ago will finally be fulfilled next week when a group of Darlington children start at a new school.

In 1980, Durham County Council education bosses proposed to transfer Harrowgate Hill infant and junior schools to Thompson Street West.

But the council ran out of money after moving the junior school to the site and the upgrade for the infants never materialised. The project was then taken in hand by Darlington Borough Council, when it took over the responsibility of education in 1997.

On Tuesday, the next generation of pupils will finally start lessons in the new school when the juniors and infants merge in a £5.5m modern building.

Yesterday, teachers and builders worked to get the school finished in time for the start of the autumn term.

Headteacher John Warburton said: "The building is superb, there is technology we never dreamed of. But the best bit is that we are bringing the two schools together."

The building has been designed to be environmentally friendly and has seven solar roof panels, troughs for vegetable growing and benches made from timber recycled from Hartlepool docks.

Every classroom opens out to one of several yards so lessons can move into the fresh air in good weather.

Kevin Duffy, head of school place, planning and assets, for Darlington Borough Council, said every classroom had chairs that had been recommended by physiotherapists to give children good posture.

The school is part of a £35m private finance initiative, which includes the new Education Village, which is under construction in Haughton.

It has taken just over a year to build and has been constructed by Kajima Corporation. Darlington Borough Council will pay back the building costs over 25 years.

Every classroom has wireless Internet technology, which means laptops can link up to a network in any teaching space. There is also an interactive white board in every room.

Yesterday, year two teacher Louise Scott said: "It is exciting, but it is also a big challenge."

Claire Melling, a year five teacher who has two children at the school, said: "Every single room is bright and airy. The children are really excited about it and we have lots of things planned."