THE Department for Education says it is working to “ensure a strong sponsor” for Haydon Bridge High School and Haltwhistle Community Campus.

But the DfE would not confirm this week whether the sponsor would still be Bright Tribe, which has come under heavy criticism.

The Cheshire-based trust was named among the country’s top five performing multi-academy trusts last year, and was identified as the Government’s preferred choice to lead Haydon Bridge High School out of special measures.

And earlier this year, parents of pupils at Haltwhistle Community Campus voted in favour of Bright Tribe becoming the new sponsor of the campus, which became an academy three years ago.

But doubts over Bright Tribe’s credentials were expressed last week, when its Whitehaven Academy in West Cumbria was subject of a damning Ofsted report.

It led to concerns from governors at Haltwhistle, who said they may consider blocking Bright Tribe’s move to the school.

Asked this week if Bright Tribe was still the Government’s preferred choice to turn around failing schools, a spokesman for the Department of Education was non-committal.

Instead, he said the Regional Schools Commissioner, Janet Renou, was working with the two schools and the local authority.

He added: “The RSC is working with the schools in question and Northumberland County Council to ensure a strong sponsor is secured for the schools serving the communities of Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle.”

Northumberland County Council said the interim executive board (IEB) at Haydon Bridge High School, was awaiting clarification on the role of Bright Tribe, and could not comment further at this stage.

The county council installed the IEB at Haydon Bridge High after it was placed in special measures almost two years ago.

Bright Tribe’s takeover at both Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle was expected to be completed in September, but it has been blighted with delays over buildings and land.

Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman, who has previously backed Bright Tribe, focused on the trust’s staff who have already been working in both schools for several months.

He said: “I have met the teachers employed by Bright Tribe, who are working already in Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge High School, led by Dr Judith Greene.

“They are doing an outstanding job and the improvements in both schools are clear to parents and pupils.”