WHITFIELD Primary School looks set to become an academy in a bid to secure its long-term future.

The Church of England School has been in special measures for two years, having received seven damning Ofsted reports.

Following its most recent inspection back in March, Whitfield Primary was facing the prospect of closure. But the community rallied around to save the 250-year-old school, and in May it was granted a stay of execution by Northumberland County Council and was allowed to open for the current academic year.

Now the school has broken free from the West Tyne Federation of Schools, in which it previously shared a governing body with primary schools at Greenhead and Henshaw.

A new independent governing body has been set up for Whitfield, while the Cumbria-based academy trust Good Shepherd has been identified as a possible sponsor to take over the running of the school.

If all goes to plan, Whitfield could become a sponsored academy by the spring of next year.

Amanda Stembridge, a locally-based solicitor, has been appointed as the chairman of the new governing body. She said: “We are absolutely delighted to be offered this opportunity to join the Good Shepherd Multi-Academy Trust and look forward to a really bright future for Whitfield.”

The Good Shepherd trust runs four academies in Cumbria – at Ambleside, Braithwaite, Haversham, and Lazonby.

Despite leaving the West Tyne Federation of Schools, both Mrs Stembridge and the Diocese of Newcastle said the school would be retaining its church school status.

Mrs Stembridge said the school had enjoyed “significantly improved results” in this summer’s SATs.

She added: “The governors join me in offering our congratulations to the pupils, headteacher Erica Carter and staff for the much-improved results.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to parents and the local community for their hard work and support in making this happen. There is still much to do, but we are convinced that Whitfield is now firmly on the road to recovery.”

The primary is planning to open a pre-school class for local children as a precursor to joining the school’s existing reception class.