PROPOSALS to create a new village primary school to replace the existing junior and infant schools are to be discussed next week.

Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to agree plans for a new split-site school in Leadgate when it meets on Wednesday (Nov 19).

The proposals include changing the age range of Leadgate Junior School, from seven to 11 to three to 11, and closing Leadgate Infant and Nursery School as a separate school from the end of March next year.

The new school will have a capacity of 210 places, enough for the 180 pupils currently using the two schools, which is expected to rise to 195 over the next five years.

A report to go before the Cabinet says that council officials believe that the long term viability of separate infant and junior schools is uncertain due to changes in school funding expected to come into force next year.

The report suggests that larger primary schools are more likely to be stronger financially and are less disruptive to pupils’ education as they remove the need for them to move to a new school at the age of seven.

A consultation exercise was held with parents, pupils, staff and governors throughout June and July, in which 26 out of the 27 responses were in favour of the move.

The amalgamation is expected to cost around £20,000 for new signs and an upgrade of computer systems, to be paid for from the council’s School Capital Maintenance Grant.

Durham County Council’s cabinet will decide on the proposal during its meeting on Wednesday at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland.