COUNCIL bosses have bid for Government cash to bring Northallerton’s secondary schools together on one site.

Education bosses are in the process of forming a new through school for 11 to 19-year-olds in the town, but the buildings will still be a mile apart at different ends of the town.

Northallerton is one of the few remaining towns in the country with split secondary schools, a legacy from the grammar school system abandoned in 1973.

From April 2, the former Allertonshire school, which provided education for 11 to 14-year-olds and Northallerton College, catering for 14 to 19-year-olds, are due to amalgamate.

That means they will be able to offer continuous education, one curriculum, one teaching staff and a single governing body.

The move has been welcomed by parents, teachers and education bosses who say it will be a huge improvement for over 1,000 students in the town.

Chair of governors Rob Barker said a new building to concentrate all schools on the same site would be an advantage and desirable, but the most important move was the amalgamation.

He said: “We want to concentrate on getting one school set up from April 2.

"If North Yorkshire County Council is successful in achieving funding for one building that would be an advantage for the children in three or four years time, but we believe it is crucial to have one school, not necessarily one building.”

The council has made the bid under the schools priority programme asking for millions of pounds for a new building, potentially on the Allertonshire site.

A council spokeswoman said it was facing competition from many schools for the Government funding.

She said: "That is why the amalgamation will go ahead regardless of whether the funding for a new building is given, there is an overriding case to have one school with one governing body.

"We have put in the bid because without funding from the Government the council would not be able to pay for a new building.”

Mayor of Northallerton Cllr John Forrest said it would be far better for the students to be located on a single site.

He added: "At the moment they will potentially be moving from site to site which is by no means ideal, I think the staff are supporting it, it would be good for the town.”

The authority expects to learn whether the bid has been successful later this month.