TWO colleges plan to become the first secondary schools in County Durham to join in a federation.

Durham Community Business College, formerly Deerness Valley Comprehensive, at Ushaw Moor, and Fyndoune Community College, at Sacriston, want to pool their resources and expertise to provide a better education for their pupils.

Unlike an amalgamation, the schools, five miles apart, will keep their own identities and premises, but will have one headteacher and one governing body.

The schools have been working together for some time, and the move would allow all pupils - the combined enrollment is about 1,100 youngsters aged 11 to 16 - to take advantage of the specialisations each school has.

Durham Community Business College has pioneered a vocational scheme, Fit4Employment, with local construction firm The Esh Group, that has seen several pupils land jobs with the company on leaving school.

The federation would enable the schools to develop their vocational courses and expand community education programmes.

Ann Lakey, headteacher of Durham Community Business College, said: "It would be the first federation at secondary level in County Durham.

"We want to improve our curriculum and give a broader range of opportunities to our young people.

"Both schools have unique specialities. We have concentrated on technology, construction and business, and Fyndoune has a rural science unit.

"We feel we can keep the strength of the caring, smaller school, where everyone knows the students, and broaden the curriculum we offer.''

Mrs Lakey added: "The feedback from parents has been very positive. They are saying that it is innovative, it is different and that if it helps their son or daughter, it is the way forward.''

Durham County Council's education director, Keith Mitchell, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the progress being made and we congratulate the governing bodies of the two schools for their vision and collaboration."

Two open evenings will be held to explain the proposals to parents.

They will be on Tuesday, at 7pm, at Durham Community Business College, and on Thursday, at 7pm, at Fyndoune Community College.

Parents have until Friday February 17 to write to the chairmen of both schools' governors to give their views on federation.

The proposals will be considered by the council's cabinet on Thursday, February 9.