AFTER months of uncertainty surrounding the future, a new academy chain has been found to run two Haltwhistle schools.

WISE Academies has announced that both Haltwhistle Upper and Lower Schools will join the trust’s group of schools in time for the new academic year, following approval by the Department for Education.

And with Prudhoe West Academy, the town’s Adderlane Academy and Haydon Bridge’s Shaftoe Trust Academy under its control, WISE already has a strong presence in the Tyne Valley.

A spokesman for WISE said: “We are pleased to announce that Haltwhistle Lower School and Haltwhistle Upper School will both join the WISE Academies family of schools from September 1, subject to all legal processes being completed.

“The five schools will form a strong partnership within the WISE Academies west Northumberland hub.”

The future of the two schools, which together form Haltwhistle Community Campus, was thrown into turmoil in December after current sponsor Bright Tribe said it was pulling out. The community campus became Tynedale’s first academy in 2013.

WISE, which stands for We Inspire Success and Excellence, has built up a reputation for turning around under-performing schools.

Bright Tribe also withdrew from Haydon Bridge High School in November. Northumberland County Council has taken the high school back under its control, appointing a new interim executive board. It said it would be announcing plans for the future of the Haydon Bridge Partnership in the coming weeks.

“It is good to know that the Haltwhistle Community Campus has some certainty about its future sponsor,” said a council spokesman.

“The council is keen to work with academy sponsors who are able to help to achieve the best outcomes for young people in Northumberland.

“The council is currently considering responses to the recent statutory consultation on proposals for schools in the Haydon Bridge Partnership and will be publishing a report on the next steps soon.

“Should the proposals be approved the council would work with the new sponsor of Haltwhistle Community Campus to develop a solution that would fit with the wider organisation of schools in the area.”

The spokesman for WISE added: “We are aware of the current local authority consultation around the future of the middle school system in this part of Northumberland.

“Clearly it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing process and WISE Academies will respond when the consultation phase has been concluded.”

He added that meetings would be arranged with staff, parents, carers, governors and the local community in Haltwhistle.

Both Haltwhistle schools were contacted for a comment.