NORTHUMBERLAND County Council's cabinet has made the final decision on the future of schools in the west of Northumberland.

The cabinet voted unanimously to carry out the recommendations of the report released last week, despite fierce opposition from parents at Bellingham Middle School, which is now set to close.

A two-tier system will be implemented across the Haydon Bridge Partnership from 2019.

The age range at Bellingham First School would be extended to form a primary school, along with first schools at Kielder, Otterburn, and Greenhaugh, with the changes set to be implemented by September 2019.

However, council officers chose to delay making a decision on the future of West Woodburn First School until the Christmas period, with fears that the school could not sustain a primary model.

Work will also begin on a detailed business case to establish a site and a project budget for new buildings for the Hadrian Learning Trust.

Speaking at the meeting, council leader Coun. Peter Jackson said: "We're prepared to invest millions of pounds into these schools, but the challenge back to communities, and local schools, is that we are expecting standards to rise."

Read more in this week's Hexham Courant.