A HYBRID system of two and three-tier schools could soon be a reality in Ponteland.

Northumberland County Council’s cabinet voted in favour of the schools shake-up in a meeting on Tuesday.

The proposals will now be subject to a four-week statutory consultation with a final decision expected to be made on July 12.

The meeting followed a public consultation, launched in March, regarding a switch from a three-tier to a two-tier school model.

If the proposals are approved, Ponteland High School will extend its age range to become an 11-18 secondary school.

It will move to a new site, shared with leisure facilities and Ponteland First School, which will also extend its age range to become a primary school.

Darras Hall First School and Heddon-on-the-Wall St Andrew’s First School will also become primary schools.

Previously, the governing body at Stamfordham First School had voted against the proposals and those at Belsay First School were equally split, meaning that they will remain first schools.

Whalton First School had stated a preference to remain a first school or join Morpeth Partnership and is also set to retain its status.

And the governing body of Richard Coates CE Middle school is still considering its views.

However, ahead of Tuesday’s meeting all four schools voted in favour of becoming primary schools.

This would extend the estimated budget to adapt and extend school buildings to £56.6 million.

And Ponteland Middle School, which had been earmarked for closure, will become an academy removed from the county council’s control.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor Robert Arckless, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I want to emphasis this process was initiated by the schools, not by this council.

“There is a very clear shift in power from local education authority to schools and governing bodies, I think we have an example of that situation here today.

“I always feel much more comfortable when we can reach a consensus on the best way forward.

“I don’t think it would be possible to achieve that in this case.

“Whatever happens today, I would urge that there needs to be discussion in the partnership about the way ahead.”

The proposal was put to a vote, with Conservative leader Peter Jackson the only cabinet member present to vote against.

He said: “It has been a long and painful process, not just for council officers but the whole community.

“I said at the start it would set school against school and community against community and that’s what it has done.

“There are matters to do with the consultation process that in my view have been unsatisfactory.

“To allow three working days to take full account of over 2,500 responses is not sufficient time to take them seriously.

“The whole thing has been pushed through in the bare minimum time period.”