Along with the first and middle schools at Bellingham, the high school formally announced last month that it was formally severing all ties with its foundation body, the North Pennines Learning Partnership Trust.
But the two Bellingham schools are now having to go it alone, with Haydon Bridge – which was put in special measures following its latest Ofsted report – forced to hang fire on the move.
It is understood the problem revolves around a dispute over the former Haydon Bridge School farm.
Certain school properties were handed over to the trust when the partnership was set up in 2008, and the status of the farm is believed to be the stumbling block.
However, the hold-up is being seen as a delay rather than a move which will halt the process completely.
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