STANDING in the science laboratories of the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, it is difficult to remember this is the 21st Century.

The buildings have barely altered since they were constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s - and principal David Heaton admits that visiting parents often wonder whether anything has changed from their own school days.

"The science wing's time is simply up - it clearly needs renovating," he says, with a sigh.

And, if councillors agree next week to the building of 61 properties on land adjacent to the college, that is exactly what will happen.

The college needed to raise £1.5m, to add to £1m in Government funding, to make a revamp possible, and saw the sale of hardly-used hockey fields, as well as an outdated drama centre, as the best option.

If approved, the £2.5m project would see archaic huts in the courtyard pulled down to make way for more modern classrooms and laboratories.

Part of a huge extension would also be a new drama studio and theatre, to replace buildings in Trinity Road.

It is a move the college sees as essential if it is to maintain its position among the top ten performing sixth forms in the country.

"I cannot emphasise the significance of this enough," says Mr Heaton. "It is the biggest development since we became a sixth form college and will mean the standard of accommodation is vastly improved."

Objectors see it another way. The drama centre, set to be scrapped, is the former Arthur Pease School, one of the first to be built in Darlington and its loss would anger historians.

The loss of fields and tennis courts behind the college is also a bone of contention - Friends of Stanhope Park fear more students could be forced to use the park's lands and tennis courts.

Residents are also concerned about the Abbey Road playing fields plans, saying perimeter fencing would lead to the loss of informal open space - putting more pressure on Stanhope Park.

However, Sport England says the scheme is acceptable as mitigation for the loss of hockey fields.

Whatever the outcome of Wednesday's planning committee decision, the spotlight is now once again firmly on education in Darlington.