TWO schools in Stockton are set to close and be replaced by a new primary school run jointly by the Local Education Authority and the Church of England.

Stockton council are set to agree to close Elm Tree Infant School on Bishopton Road West and St Mark's Junior School on St Mark's Close and create a new voluntary-aided Church of England primary school.

Consultations with parents, governing bodies and teachers about the future of the schools were completed earlier in the year and the council will now make a decision at a meeting on Thursday.

The council and the Diocesan Board of Education have stressed the educational and financial benefits of establishing one large primary school in the area which would solve the problem of surplus places in Elm Tree Infant School.

Talking about the consultation process, the council's Director of Education Stan Bradford said: "Parents wanted reassurance on minimising the levels of disruption to the pupils.

"But in conclusion parents supported the proposals and felt it was a positive step to secure a local school for Elm Tree."

Mr Bradford went onto say the governing bodies, staff and education committees for both schools on the whole supported the move to close the schools.

If the proposal to close the schools is agreed the new voluntary aided primary school would start with 257 pupils, which would eventually fall to 210.

The school would be created on the site of St Mark's Junior School, using existing buildings and building an extension.