DISAPPOINTED teachers and governors have vowed to make a merger - which will create the biggest primary school in Darlington - work.

On Wednesday, the borough council school organisation committee voted unanimously to merge Whinfield Infants' and Junior schools to create a 630-pupil primary school within the walls of the two existing buildings.

The committee considered 27 letters of protest which raised several concerns including the impact on the junior school's high performance, the school size, the headteachers' positions, staff losses and finance.

Education officer David Walker said: "National data shows that Whinfield Junior School's standards are just in line with other schools in maths and science. Looking at the statistics, it is not a high performing school and the last Ofsted report was published three years ago."

He said that there was no information that identified pupil numbers affecting a school or its education.

"Several letters also said a new headteacher had been agreed on but that isn't the case," said Mr Walker.

"The new headteacher will be decided by the school's governing body, not by the local education authority.

"It's also not a falling rolls situation so we don't envisage staff leaving unless they wish too."

He went on to say that the merger was not a cost-cutting exercise.

"Up to £500,000 could be made available through prudential borrowing to enhance the buildings," he said.

He added that he felt special needs children would benefit by a single school support system and that the merger would not have a detrimental effect on traffic.

Alison Godfrey, who has two children at the junior school, said she was utterly bewildered by the proposal.

"The support given to my children when their father died was helped by the fact that it is a small school. Size does matter, it does to us and to other parents."

Cath Williams, an infants' school teacher-governor, said that opinion had been mixed but that the two school sites would be unable to provide a big enough space for all the 630 pupils to gather.

Junior school teacher Margaret Smith thought the report was a slur on the school and unforgivable.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "I'm very disappointed with the decision. I think it's an unnecessary burden on the two schools. But we are professionals and we will work together for the good of the children.

"However, the education department now has some fences to mend with the junior school after that report."

Lynn Thompson, chairman of the governors at Whinfield Junior School, said: "The director of education told us that there would be a recovery period of five to ten years. The merger is very disappointing but we will make it work.