A COUNCIL leader has written to almost 10,000 staff to reassure them about a multi-million pound education shake-up.

Councillor Ken Manton, leader of Durham County Council, said that while the £300m schools review may involve some closures, there are no "done deals" or firm proposals.

Coun Manton has sent a letter to each of the authority's teachers, support staff and other education employees to offer them "reassurance and clarification".

And he said that even though decisions will have to be made soon, that will only be after detailed consultation.

The council is suggesting a wide range of possible measures to reduce the number of surplus places in schools, and identified 23 schools as possible candidates for closure.

But in his letter, Coun Manton said the exercise is not about the removal of schools.

He said: "No doubt there will be some, as there would be over any 20-year period as school buildings come to the end of their natural lives or as new situations arise.

"But this is not about school closures on any significant scale. It is only one possible outcome among many other opportunities to improve school buildings.

"There are many possible ways forward. We can look at amalgamations with new building or extensive modernisation.

"We can also look at keeping school buildings, but operating smaller schools in groups as 'federations', both at primary and secondary level.

"We can also use surplus places for other purposes, such as health, libraries, community facilities and so on, so that a school can be a one-stop-shop at the heart of its community.

"Let me stress again that no decisions have yet been taken, and indeed there are no proposals as yet."

Coun Manton said the next stage is for the council to draw up draft proposals for more detailed consultation.