EDUCATION chiefs in Darlington this week revealed plans to close two schools and reduce the size of a third because of falling pupil numbers.

Rise Carr Primary School in Eldon Street, will shut this summer if the proposals are approved unanimously by the independent School Organisation Committee.

Albert Hill Nursery School in Prescott Street, will close and amalgamate with Gurney Pease Primary School in Dodsworth Street.

Darlington Borough Council also wants to demolish part of Corporation Road Primary School to reduce its size.

Director of education Geoff Pennington said places at nearby schools would be found for the majority of pupils at Rise Carr. The likelihood is that most will move to North Road Primary School or Harrowgate Hill Primary School, which is opening a new £5.5m building in September. But up to 20 may have to attend a school that is not the next nearest to them.

Teachers could also be facing redundancy - though the authority has pledged to find jobs within the borough for as many as possible.

Mr Pennington said the closures were the best solution for tackling the problem of surplus school places, caused by a falling birth rate. He said: "I think parents will be concerned because they are entering a period of uncertainty and any uncertainty as far as children is concerned is to be avoided. What we would want to do is win parents' support for the proposals. I think they will see that there's a lot of sense in what we are proposing."

Rise Carr, the smallest of the schools within the North Road area, has the largest projected fall in pupil numbers. A report to the cabinet shows it has 175 pupils and 35 surplus places caused by falling birth rates. Education officers predict it will have 64 unneeded places by 2007. The school needs more than £130,000 worth of building work and has no playing field.

Tony Kemp, headteacher at Rise Carr, said the school was still taking in the news. "We are aware of the proposals and we are looking into it," he said.

Vicky Carr, 29, of North Road, who has three children at Rise Carr, said: "We had no idea at all this was going to happen, so as you can imagine it's a bit of a bombshell."

Another parent, who asked not to be named, said: "I think it's totally out of order. This is going to mean a load of hassle for parents and teachers."

School governors said it was too soon to comment on the plan.

The council's cabinet is expected to approve the plans next Tuesday, after which consultation will begin.