WORK has started on the construction of the new £5.5m primary school in Darlington.

Harrowgate Hill Primary School is to be built on the site of the existing Harrowgate Hill Junior school.

The scheme is part of Darlington Council's plan to relocate the infant and junior schools onto one purpose-built site, which was decided in 1980 by Durham County Council.

In addition to providing places for 525 primary school pupils, the new school will also include a 45-place nursery.

The school is to be built by the Kajima Corporation as part of the £34.9 million Darlington Education Village Private Finance Initiative scheme. The state-of-the-art school will feature wireless access in every classroom allowing connection to the Information Technology network in all teaching spaces.

All classrooms will have interactive whiteboards to allow teachers to use ICT in all lessons.

Outside facilities will include an improved grass pitch for PE and recreation, a multi-use games area, a pond with sensory beach and external classrooms for each key stage to enhance their learning experience.

Incorporated within the development will be a wind turbine, solar panels and a recycling centre. Security fencing and CCTV will help to improve security both during the day and outside school hours.

The creation of a large hall that can be sub-divided into three separate areas and the potential for each classroom to be used as an ICT suite in its own right, as well as the improved outside recreation facilities, opens up opportunities for community use of the new school.

Stephen Harker, Darlington Council's Cabinet Member for Education said: "This is another development that will provide pupils and teachers with an innovate and exciting learning environment.

"The new school will provide pupils with first class facilities and continuity in their education from age three to eleven years with nursery age children taught in a purpose built area."

Bob Kay, project manager with the Kajima Corporation added: "It's very exciting to be commencing work on site for such a prestigious education project."

"We have already demonstrated this expertise with the design and build of four PFI schools in North Tyneside which have recently been highly commended in an independent report, and we are intent on replicating this level of performance in Darlington."