GOVERNORS could attempt to block plans for Haltwhistle Community Campus to be taken over by the multi-academy trust Bright Tribe.

Their intervention could also scupper Bright Tribe’s takeover of Haydon Bridge High School.

The governors have expressed serious doubts over the suitability of the Cheshire-based trust, following a damning report of its leadership of one of its academies in Cumbria.

Bright Tribe, which also runs six other academies in Suffolk, Essex, and Greater Manchester, was rated among the country’s top five perfoming multi-academy trusts in 2015, and was awarded a share of £5m Government funding.

In March of this year, parents at Haltwhistle Community Campus voted in favour of Bright Tribe becoming the new sponsor for the school, which became a stand-alone academy in 2013.

Now the school’s chairman of governors, Andy Saunders, has aired serious doubts about the organisation, and is seeking an urgent meeting with regional schools commissioner Janet Renou.

Mr Saunders said: “We previously questioned Bright Tribe’s ability to manage schools away from its base in Cheshire, but were reassured by the regional schools commissioner of its capabilities.

“We now need to speak to the regional schools commissioner to find out what the options are.

“If we were to break away from Bright Tribe, I would want to speak to existing academies at Hexham and Brampton, and see if we could become part of a much more local academy set-up.”

Bright Tribe’s takeover at both Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge was expected to be completed in September.

The academy plans for Haydon Bridge have been held up due to complications over the transfer of buildings and land.

And this week, it emerged Bright Tribe is not interested in taking over Haydon Bridge High School’s boarding wing at Ridley Hall, where a catalogue of failings relating to safeguarding were highlighted in a critical Ofsted report in November.

And it is understood issues relating to Ridley Hall are contributing to takeover delays at both Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle.

Northumberland County Council appointed an interim executive board (IEB) at Haydon Bridge High, after it was placed in special measures in February 2015.