EDUCATION chiefs have tried to quash rumours that a Darlington secondary school will close in five years.

Hurworth Secondary School has been considered for closure, along with Darlington's other secondary schools, education officials confirmed.

They said at least one secondary school would have to close due to falling numbers. Education bosses met headteachers and each school in Darlington was considered in turn for possible closure, apart from Haughton Community School, which is locked into a 25-year private finance agreement.

At a meeting of Darlington Borough Council's schools organisation committee, Coun Roderick Burtt said: "Over the last four to five weeks I have been approached by several people saying they have heard that Hurworth School is going to close within the next five years.

"The rumour is now beginning to gain pace and there are people coming up to me asking about it all the time.

"In my view it would be a disaster for the village and a disaster for education."

Assistant director of education Gail Bowen said: "At a conference with all schools we did an action planning piece about keeping open or closing a school in Darlington. There may have been discussions about Hurworth, but also about every other school in town."

Kevin Duffy, education capital projects officer, added: "The falling rolls is a primary school issue and we are looking at it at that level, but within a few years it will become a secondary issue and we need to address it now."