Controversial plans to close a troubled Northumberland school to make way for a new super school have come under fire from parents.
Northumberland County Council revealed a long-term plan to convert Haydon Bridge High School into an academy has been delayed.
Now the authority is proposing to merge the 478-pupil school with nearby Queen Elizabeth High School (QEHS), which has 1,474 students six miles away in Hexham.
Under the plan, pupils and staff at Haydon Bridge would move to the existing QEHS site on Whetstone Bridge Road from September this year.
The merger would then lead to the opening of a new super school at the west end of Hexham in 2020.
Ridley Hall near Bardon Mill in Northumberland
Dad-of-two Jan Harding has set-up a petition objecting against the proposals, saying Haydon Bridge High School plays an important role in the community.
Mr Harding, 50, of Allendale, said: “Quite a lot of the parents are really upset because we feel it came out of the blue.
“We felt that when the announcement was made by the county council it was another nail in the coffin for rural communities.”
Another parent Helen Wigham said: “My daughter goes to Haydon Bridge and loves it. It will be an absolute travesty if this school closes.”
Haydon Bridge High School was placed in special measures after a disastrous 2014 Ofsted inspection.
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In October 2015, the Bright Tribe Trust was lined up to take over the school and turn it into an academy.
Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland
However, the process has been held up over land transfers and the trust’s unwillingness to take on the Ridley Hall boarding wing.
Now the council has sent a letter to Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, asking for the academy order to be withdrawn.
Councillor Robert Arckless, the council’s cabinet member for education, said the merger would be a positive move for Tynedale.
He said: “Delivering a good quality education for children in Northumberland remains a priority for us.
“We feel this proposal, if agreed, will provide a more sustainable solution and deliver better educational outcomes for the long term future of education in Haydon Bridge and Hexham.”
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The council is expected to start consulting over the proposed plans in the coming months.
Last summer, QEHS became an academy when it joined forces with Hexham Middle School to form the Hadrian Learning Trust.
A QEHS spokesman said: “Any proposed change of this nature would have wide-reaching consequences.
“These would need to be carefully considered and much detailed work would be required before formulating a response.”
In a letter to parents, the Bright Tribe Trust said it remained committed to raising standards at Haydon Bridge High School and was striving to complete the takeover as soon as possible.
To sign the petition, search for Safeguarding the future of Haydon Bridge High School at www.change.org .
Story from Chronicle, originally shown online at: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/itd-travesty-parent…