A HEADTEACHER has refuted a councillor's claim that her school was a "lame duck".

Karen Pemberton, headteacher of Eastbourne Comprehensive in Darlington, which was recently taken out of the special measures imposed on it by Ofsted inspectors in 2002, said the school was more like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

She was responding to comments made by Hurworth ward councillor Roderick Burtt at a full council meeting on Thursday.

He asked when the pioneering education federation between Eastbourne and Hurworth School Maths and Computing College would end.

Councillor Burtt said: "I suppose we must congratulate the authority on getting them out of special measures.

"Does that mean it's out of the claws of Hurworth Comprehensive School as of now, so Hurworth Comprehensive School can get on with doing what it's supposed to do and not supporting lame ducks?"

Ms Pemberton told The Northern Echo: "Both Eastbourne and Hurworth comprehensives achieved record GCSE results last year, totally negating any suggestion that working with Eastbourne has had a negative impact on Hurworth."

Speaking at the meeting, Eastbourne ward councillor and deputy leader Bill Dixon said: "As one of the other ward councillors whose children attend Hurworth, I was most pleased that Hurworth was able to help Eastbourne.

"Let's not forget that one third of the pupils from Hurworth come from my patch. It's to their credit that they were able to help."

Council leader John Williams said: "It (the federation) helped Hurworth and helped Eastbourne and the partnership will continue as long as that's the case."