Darlington Partnership has come out in support of controversial proposals to merge two secondary schools in a £25m academy.

The partnership, which is made up of representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sector, has given its backing to the Church of England-sponsored academy.

The academy would bring together rural Hurworth School and Eastbourne Comprehensive in the town.

The proposals, from Darlington Borough Council, have been controversial, with parents, teachers and governors in Hurworth rejecting the plans.

Governors at the school are now pursuing plans to expand by a third to become a 900-pupil foundation school, free from local authority control.

Yesterday Alasdair MacConachie, chairman of Darlington Partnership, said: "The partnership, with its goal of creating a prosperous and thriving town, believes a good education for every child is essential.

"The chance to bring in £25m to create a new school and build on current strengths must not be passed over.

"Darlington Partnership supports the proposal of an academy and its part in the planned transformation of all secondary education in the borough."

The academy is designed to solve the surplus school places problem in Darlington - where there are too few pupils for the schools in the town.

The academy will also be the base for an education improvement partnership, which will work with all schools in Darlington to improve achievement for all children in the borough.

Darlington Borough Council and the governing body at Hurworth School will both start consultation phases on their respective proposals in the new year.