A COUNCILLOR has called for plans to create a new primary school academy to be placed on ice, along with a rival bid to merge a junior and infants school.

Durham County Council has started the process of merging South Stanley Infant and Nursery School with the adjoining junior school, to form a single primary school.

But the regional schools commissioner has approved an order for nearby Greenland Community Primary School to form a multi-academy trust incorporating South Stanley Infant School.

Local councillor Carl Marshall said the two opposing bids were created confusion and concern among parents.

He said: “Both processes need to stop and we need to have a look at what the best model of education is and do it properly.

“At the moment it is a race to see whether we are going to have a primary school or an academy.

“We need to get everyone around the table, including governors and head teachers and have a proper conversation - not just with the schools involved, but with all schools in the area.”

Cllr Marshall said the county council had set in motion plans to merge the two South Stanley schools when the headteacher of the infants school tendered her resignation, which was subsequently withdrawn.

He added: “The regional schools commissioner has approved an order to set up a multi-academy trust up and as far as I am aware, under current legislation, his order supersedes anything the local authority do.

“But county council officers are looking into their options at the minute.”

He added: “I support the establishment of a primary school, because it gives a consistent educational benefit to children from the age of three through to 11. They are good schools with good Ofsted reports and are serving the community well.

“But I recognise that if parents and schools would like to establish multi-academy trusts then that their choice.

“If an academy were to be set up, it would leave the junior in a vulnerable position and possibly divide families.”

Sheila Palmerley, Durham County Council’s strategic manager for school places and admissions, said: “The council is currently consulting on amalgamating South Stanley Infants with South Stanley Juniors and are considering our next steps once the consultation finishes later this month.”

Greenland Primary School was unavailable for comment.