UNIONS have criticised a cash-strapped council for spending thousands of pounds of Government money on a teacher-training day at an upmarket hotel.

As part of the session, ten Darlington Borough Council staff will also be treated to an overnight stay at the four-star Redworth Hall Hotel, near Darlington.

Unison representatives reacted with anger to the news, which comes as council chiefs are preparing to lay off 77 workers in an attempt to save £4.7m.

The Northern Echo has learnt that 40 teachers, support staff and governors from Dodmire Primary School, in Darlington, have been invited to the training session at the hotel on Monday, March 29, at a cost of £2,000.

Ten of those will stay at the hotel – which is only 8.6 miles from the school – the previous night, and have full use of facilities including the swimming pool, sauna and gym.

Last night, Alan Docherty, of Unison, said: “This money could be put to far better use.

“Why do people need to stay over?

“If the council is getting this money from the Government, why not hold the training in a council establishment?

“If they held it somewhere like the Dolphin Centre, they would still have to pay a fee, but the money would at least be recycled and come back to the council.”

The council was given the funding from the Training and Development Agency for Schools to run sessions on the new primary curriculum.

Redworth Hall is set in 150 acres of woodland next to the village of Heighington – once voted the most picturesque in the UK. The website describes the hotel as “simply stunning”

and a “breathtaking retreat”.

A council spokeswoman said the £2,000 came from a larger Government grant worth £7,000.

She said: “The remaining funds of up to £5,000 will be spent on a range of activities and additional training.

“In line with Ofsted recommendations, the headteacher, senior teaching staff and governors will also undertake additional sessions which will provide governors with the opportunity to work with senior teaching staff and become more involved in the planning and work for the coming year.

“Up to ten governors and senior teaching staff will be attending the additional session in their free time – arriving on the Sunday afternoon for workshops prior to the full-day event and will stay overnight.”