An ambitious plan to launch a specialist engineering university technical college in County Durham has won the support of business leaders.
The University of Sunderland is partnering with local employers Hitachi Rail Europe and Gestamp Tallent to put together the proposals and has earmarked Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe as an ideal location for the new school, which would be for 14-18-year-olds.
The state-funded college will teach students the five core subjects - but will have a special emphasis on engineering and will also teach them to speak German.