A PRUDHOE first school has joined the growing list of those turning away from county council control in Tynedale.

In November, Adderlane First School will become an academy, taking itself outside of local authority jurisdiction.

The school, which has been working its way out of special measures in the last year, will join the WISE multi-academy trust.

WISE Academies is a Department of Education approved charity which incorporates a number of North-East schools.

Adderlane’s announcement comes a week after the cabinet at Northumberland County Council voted to create a two-tier school system in Ponteland, despite strong opposition from parents.

Perhaps predicting this outcome, Ponteland Middle School secured its future by securing an academy order.

And after receiving scant support during consultation, last month governors at Hexham Middle and Queen Elizabeth High Schools opted to carry on regardless with academy plans.

Adderlane First School will be the second Prudhoe academy, joining St Matthews Catholic Primary School, which is part of the St Thomas More Multi Academy Trust.

Since Adderlane First School fell into special measures in June 2015, headteacher Emma Potts and staff have been working tirelessly to restore its fortunes.

And in the two monitoring reports that followed inspectors praised improvements.

However it is Government policy that all schools placed into special measures move towards academisation.

And earlier this year the school was approached by the Department for Education, which introduced the school to WISE Academies.

Following consultation with parents, governors and the local community, the school announced its academisation this week.

There are currently four schools in WISE Academies Trust in the North-East area.

They are are all graded ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

And headteacher Emma Potts said the decision had been received well by staff, parents and the governing body.

She said: “This is a positive step for Adderlane to secure the improvements we have made this year.

“This year has been very exciting for the school as we have been recognised as a school that is improving by Ofsted.”

Chief executive of WISE Academies, Zoe Carr said: “I believe it is going to prove to be a most valuable partnership and I am delighted it has come about.”

However county councillor and local councillor for the West Wylam ward, Tony Reid expressed reservations.

He said: “I’m disappointed the school is becoming an academy. I would prefer it to stay within local authority jurisdiction.

“Over the last year the new headteacher has made significant improvements. I would prefer that she had longer to turn the school around.

“I don’t know if in the long term there will be a successful outcome. We will have to wait and see.”