JOHN Gilmore (HAS, April 17) makes some broad and rather negative assumptions about the proposed academy to succeed Belmont School Community Arts College and Gilesgate Sports College, based on very different models from elsewhere in the country.

The Durham City academy is jointly sponsored by Durham University, Durham County Council and the Head Teachers of County Durham Secondary Schools.

This is a consortium wholly committed to education, not one with any overriding business or religious motives. A new academy with modern facilities, sharing university expertise and facilities, can only benefit pupils and help them to realise their full potential.

Two further points. Firstly, Gilesgate School has relatively few pupils aged 11-16 and it is likely this situation will need to be addressed, irrespective of whether an academy is approved.

Secondly, the Belmont/Gilesgate area is not included until the final phase of the county council’s ten-year Building Schools for the Future programme. The economic and political landscape is impossible to predict that far ahead and the present time may be the only guaranteed chance of securing a new school for the area.

Each proposal should be considered on its merits and, in this case, an academy led by Durham University offers exciting educational opportunities for children of Belmont, Gilesgate and the surrounding catchment area.

Mick Bennett, Carrville, Durham