Church's Architect Backs Academy Site

The Academy, sponsored by the Church of England, would bring Hurworth and Eastbourne Schools together on one site off Yarm Road.

Mike Litchfield, Managing Director of the Howarth Litchfield Partnership of Durham visited the site, which is next to Tommy Crooks Park, on behalf of the Church of England.

After visiting the site he said: “The site is very well located to serve the majority of young people in its catchment area.

”It has good communication links with the local communities it will serve and the rest of the Borough. I believe this site is a very attractive proposition for the Academy.”

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has agreed that the site, which is owned by the Council, is right size for a 1,200 place school.

The size of the site owned by the Council is equivalent to 100 full size football pitches and the amount needed for the Academy is 13 full sized football pitches big.

The playing fields, nature reserve, park and fishing ponds near to the site would remain after the Academy was built.

Before the proposal for an academy can be given the go-ahead a full study of the site must take place to confirm that it is appropriate for a school building.

This study, paid for by the DfES, will look at issues such as traffic, ground quality, planning concerns and building control.

Darlington Council is currently working on an Expression of Interest to formally show the Government its interest in building an academy.

If the Government accepts this Expression of Interest, the feasibility study will take place.
There will also be a full consultation to find out what people think about the proposal.

Ada Burns, Darlington Council’s Chief Executive said: “The preferred site for the Academy will ensure there continues to be a secondary school in a part of Darlington where almost 2,000 secondary school age children live.

“The site is placed to serve children from both Eastbourne and Hurworth and two thirds of pupils at the Academy would be able to walk or cycle to school.

“The site will also allow the communities in both areas to use the facilities available at the Academy.”

For more information about the Academy proposal.