THE Church of England is poised to hand over more than £20m to replace a Darlington comprehensive school at the centre of a pioneering education initiative.

Education chiefs confirmed last night they were in talks with Church authorities over the plan to bulldoze Eastbourne Comprehensive and replace it with a new school.

The 850-pupil school - branded "failing" by inspectors two years ago - hit the headlines last year when it became the first in the country to forge a union with another comprehensive.

The liaison with top-performing Hurworth unlocked extra funding for Eastbourne and has dramatically improved its performance. The school is hoping to be out of special measures in a matter of months.

Officials say a new school could be built by 2007 - if Eastbourne switches from the local education authority to become a Church of England voluntary aided school.

The new school is expected to hold at least 900 pupils and would be built before the old Eastbourne, which is in a poor state of repair, is knocked down.

Headteacher Karen Pemberton last night hailed the plans as a fresh start for Eastbourne.

She said: "We couldn't be more pleased. The future is looking very bright.

"The governors voted earlier this term to pursue voluntary aided status, but it still needs to go through consultation.

"This is a chance to create a brand new, state-of-the-art building which is what the children deserve, things having been as difficult as they have been here for so long."

She said it would allow staff to provide the sort of education children needed in the 21st Century.

She added: "We will have to probably find a new site, which gives us a chance to start again, and we can leave behind the image of a school being in special measures.

"And a new school will be a big attraction for teachers to seek a new enterprise.

"Being a Church of England voluntary aided school will give us access to another support network, and a Christian ethos.

"This really is just a natural progression towards bringing Eastbourne out of special measures."

Mrs Pemberton said there would be no changes to admissions criteria at the school, or with any teaching staff.

Eastbourne was praised for its impressive improvements earlier this year after an action plan to improve discipline and results was implemented.

School inspectors visit each term and have said Eastbourne is on schedule to come out of special measures later this year.

Eamonn Farrar, chief executive of the federation between Eastbourne and Hurworth, said: "It is great news for the community that this school serves to be able to look forward to a new, purpose-built building with all the resources it needs.

"Given that the condition of the building, despite the money the federation has brought to the school, is not ideal, this is very welcome.

"There is a very large community here and it needs a well-resourced, top-performing school, and that is what we are trying to achieve.

"We hope becoming a Church of England voluntary aided school will generate a really good Christian ethos, which impacts on learning and performance."

Education chiefs at Darlington Borough Council last night confirmed they were in talks with the Church of England.

Director of Education Geoff Pennington said: "It is still in the early stages at the moment."