PLANS are being discussed to merge Corporation Road nursery, infant and junior schools in Darlington.

Governors, staff and parents have already been asked for their opinions about the proposed merger.

Now following the informal consultation, Darlington Borough Council's director of education Geoffrey Pennington is planning to apply officially to create the new school.

If permission is granted, the school would be made up of the three existing buildings on Corporation Road.

The three schools currently cater for 160 nursery children, 130 primary youngsters and 203 junior children.

The decision to merge the schools was first suggested when a vacancy for the head teacher at Corporation Road Junior School was announced.

The new school would be called Corporation Community Primary School and would aim to make the move through school less traumatic for young children and increase the continuity of education for the children.

It would also help to reduce the number of surplus places at all the schools.

Mr Pennington said: "As these schools have a high level of ethnic minority pupils, particular care is being taken to ensure all parents are made aware of the importance of the consultation process and comments encouraged."