A REVIEW group is to be formed to look at the future of primary education in Darlington.

Members of Darlington Council's lifelong learning scrutiny committee agreed at its meeting on Monday to form the group, at the request of the local authority's director of education, Geoff Pennington.

He had written to the committee chairwoman, Councillor Cyndi Hughes, asking for the groups to be formed.

Their focus would be to look at a variety of aspects of primary schools, including admission arrangements, falling rolls and surplus places in the primary sector and report back in March.

In his letter, he said: "The purpose of the review is to ensure that schools, governors, parents and the wider community are aware of the challenges facing the primary sector, have had an opportunity to input views on these, and can understand the proposals for action that may follow the review."

He said: "This is a very major piece of work that will influence the future provision of education in the borough."