A NEW village school will be created next year by merging the separate infant and nursery schools.

Durham County Council’s cabinet committee today (Wednesday, November 19) agreed plans to open a new primary school in Leadgate, near Consett.

Councillors agreed to increase the age range at Leadgate Junior School to cover from three years to 11 years and to close the nearby Leadgate Infant and Nursery School from March 31 next year.

Leadgate Primary School will then re-open the next day as an enlarged split-site school.

The council’s education officers believe changes to Government funding may affect the future of separate infant and junior schools. A council report suggests that larger primary schools are more likely to be financially stronger.

It also suggests that the proposal will reduce disruption to pupils' education by ending the requirement for pupils to change schools at the age of seven.

The plan will create space for 210 places which is enough for the 180 pupils currently using the two schools.

Pupil numbers are expected to rise at Leadgate to 195 over the next five years.

The change is set to cost about £20,000 for upgraded computer systems and signage with the money coming from the council’s School Capital Maintenance Grant.