NORTHUMBERLAND County Council is considering mounting a legal challenge against the Government after its proposal to close Haydon Bridge High and build a £46m school in Hexham was rejected by education minister Lord Nash last month.

The plan, to close Haydon Bridge High School this summer as part of a merger with Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High, included the opening of a new purpose-built facility at the west end of Hexham in 2020.

But it was in direct opposition to the Government’s favoured plan for Haydon Bridge to stay open and become a sponsored academy under the direction of the Bright Tribe multi-academy trust.

This week, the county council’s director of education, Andrew Johnson, reaffirmed the authority’s belief that its plan would have been the best option for both schools, as it would have replaced their current aging sites with brand new buildings.

Mr Johnson said: “We have not given up. We care passionately about the education of our young people so have sought legal advice, and are considering the option of a judicial review, so that we can understand the basis upon which this decision was made.

Mr Johnson added that although the council plan meant closing Haydon Bridge High, it could have ensured a longer-term future for staff and pupils.

Haydon Bridge High has been in special measures for two years, after Ofsted inspectors published a damning report in February 2015 – while it was being run by the council.

Mr Johnson said the Government’s decision to go down the academy route prevented the council from taking its own measures to turn around the school’s fortunes.

He added: “Our frustration continues to grow. The local authority remains powerless to move the school forward.

“We are working closely with the school to do everything we can and continue to provide support and advice.

“However, the process of academisation provides very significant barriers to us and the school taking the necessary action.”

Bright Tribe’s proposed takeover has been blighted by bureaucratic delays over buildings and land, and Mr Johnson said the local authority was still awaiting a date of conversion, so it could inform parents, staff and pupils.