TWO village schools with falling rolls can only maintain their excellence if they amalgamate, education chiefs claim.

Durham County Council's cabinet has given its backing for Tanfield Lea's infant and junior schools to join forces as one primary school.

The move, which will need the independent School Organisation Committee's approval, will also save money, although both schools will retain their current buildings.

Six objectors said amalgamation could worsen the schools' performance and management, and that staff morale would suffer.

The junior school governors support amalgamation, provided funding is provided for building adaptations.

Education director at the county council Keith Mitchell said: "This is a proposal for the amalgamation of two schools on the grounds of falling rolls.

"It is about saying excellence might be at risk if we don't do something to strengthen the structure of these schools. We need to safeguard their future.

"It's not about saying they're not good schools, because these are good schools. We should amalgamate them to preserve that excellence for the future.

"Numbers of pupils are falling rapidly, it will eventually become a 210 to 230 pupil primary school - that's clearly not sufficient for two schools. It will make one viable primary school.

Councillor Neil Foster, cabinet member for children's services, said: "We have a stark choice.

"We either manage the falling roll situation, or the school dies a death by a thousand cuts, as pupil numbers fall and funding shrinks, along with staff numbers."