FOURTEEN-HUNDRED schoolchildren have poured through the doors of a new school in Darlington.

The 37.3m Education Village is the first in the country to bring a primary, secondary and special school together, putting children with special needs at its heart.

It is see as a national education experiment and local authorities across the country have visited the site and will be looking on with interest.

The school caters for pupils aged from two to 19 years and brings together Haughton Community School, Springfield Primary and Beaumont Hill Technology College.

Today pupils streamed into the school at staggered start times as pupils and staff tired to ensure the new era got off to a smooth start.

The new school has state of the art facilities, including a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, dance and drama studios and a large performance hall, which opens out onto the village green area to allow for indoor and outdoor performances.