THE chief executive of a pioneering education federation has warned that it would be "insane" to shut down the Darlington borough's best-performing school.

Eamonn Farrar, who oversees the partnership between Hurworth School Maths and Computing College, and Eastbourne Comprehensive School, spoke out after the project completed a successful first year.

There are fears about the future of Hurworth, as Darlington Borough Council carries out a review of schools in the area.

The review is in response to falling pupil numbers, and council officials have said that one, or possibly two, secondary schools may have to close as a result.

If present trends continue, by 2014 there will be 1,400 surplus pupil places, costing the borough council £500,000 a year.

Difficult decisions will have to be made in what will easily become the most difficult, important and controversial issue facing the authority over the coming months.

Despite Hurworth being the best academic performer - 70 per cent of its pupils obtained five GCSEs grades A to C last year - it is among the favourites for closure.

The value of the land on which the school stands is considerably more than any other site, while only 150 from a pupil population of 650 are drawn from the village.

In addition, many of Darlington's six other secondary schools appear to have convincing arguments in their favour.

Haughton is safeguarded by its central role in a £34.9m education village, while Carmel RC Technology College is the town's only Catholic senior school.

Eastbourne is still waiting on negotiations between the council and the Church of England over whether a new £20m school will be built - a move that would be expected to guarantee its future.

But Mr Farrar said: "It is absolutely unthinkable that Hurworth School should close.

"What we have here is provision of education that is second to none. Who in their right mind would want to lose that? Any kind of future must incorporate a lead role for Hurworth School - it would be insane not to.

"I don't think the local authority can get past the summer of next year without some decisions being made. But we will be protecting Hurworth fiercely."

Property prices in the village have soared on the back of the school's success, while new homes at nearby Middleton St George are much sought after because of the promise of a place at the Hurworth school.

Headteacher Dean Judson said: "What would be the future of Hurworth village if it didn't have this top-performing school?"

The council says no decisions have yet been made.