STAFF and pupils who will be based at a £34.9m education village have been taking a keen interest in how the building work is developing.

A viewing platform on the site of Haughton Community School, in Rockwell Lane, Darlington, means that everyone involved can have a good view of its progress.

The project will see three schools, Haughton Community School, Beaumont Special School and Springfield Primary School, brought together on one site.

Councillor Stephen Harker, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for education, said: "When the building is completed, Darlington will have a unique education facility that will offer pupils and teachers the very best in terms of facilities and curriculum delivery.

"The unique concept of bringing together in one campus a primary, secondary and special school, is an exciting development for Darlington and education nationally."

Each school within the scheme will retain its name, its identity and its own headteacher.

The building will accommodate 1,900 pupils.

The education village will also include a nursery for three and four-year-olds and an early years centre.

When building work is complete, the pupils will be transferred, the existing building demolished and the area re-developed as playing fields. The new schools are due to open in September next year.