FAR-REACHING plans to teach pupils via video link have been condemned by parents, unions and education campaigners.

Youngsters in Darlington could be at the forefront of moves to bolster teaching at troubled schools by beaming in lessons from high-flying schools.

If the plan gets the go-ahead, teachers at top performing Hurworth School will take lessons at the town's Eastbourne Comprehensive.

The idea is one of the radical proposals under consideration for a £2m project that would see Hurworth developing a close bond with Eastbourne to help to improve its academic performance.

A similar idea is already under discussion among 12 schools in rural Cumbria.

Judith Aston, of Hurworth School's Parent Teacher Association, said: "I don't know who would be checking behaviour and the pupils' understanding of what's being taught. If it is going to be support assistants, that is placing an awful lot of pressure on them. Teachers are also very pressed for time at the moment and there's going to be a lot of preparation in getting video links up and running. Who's going to be teaching the kids while that happens?"

The idea was also criticised by Nick Seaton, chairman of the National Campaign for Real Education, a pressure group made up of parents and teachers.

Mr Seaton said: "The whole notion of using high achieving schools to somehow rescue other schools is fraught with problems. Most teachers believe it's more likely that both will sink to the lowest common denominator."

Britain's biggest teaching union, the NUT, says it will fight the proposal. Trevor Blacklock, Durham divisional secretary, said: "It raises concerns in that it may cost jobs."

The Eastbourne-Hurworth link would see the two schools share staff, expertise, facilities and equipment from September.

Its proposed chief executive, Hurworth headteacher Eamonn Farrar said: "If I think I can get better quality teaching through video conference links, I'm going to do that."

The idea has yet to be ratified by governors of both schools.