GOVERNORS at Prudhoe Community High School have given their opinion on a consultation about major changes at Hexham schools.

The Hadrian Learning Trust (HLT), which runs Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School, ran a consultation asking parents, teachers and the community whether it should extend its age range to 11 to 18, and welcome pupils from Haydon Bridge High School if it was to close.

In a letter responding to the consultation, and addressed to Simon Kitchman, chairman of the HLT trust, the chairman of governors at Prudhoe Community High School praised the education provided in Hexham and the wider community.

Rob Moore, on behalf of the Prudhoe Community High School governing body, wrote: “We provide the best education in the county with Hexham leading the way.

“For QEHS to be in the top 12 per cent of secondary schools nationally is a great credit to your school.

“It is also a clear endorsement of the excellent performance of your feeder schools.”

However, given the successful current system, he said there is little evidence to show that the education of children will not be compromised if a two-tier system was adopted.

He said: “That three tier is now in a small minority nationally, is presented as a reason for change. We do not agree.

“Rather, it is a reason to critically examine it from a local perspective, identify its strengths and weaknesses and work together in partnership to improve it.”

Mr Moore added that, although year 7 and 8 students may receive additional funding in an 11-18 school compared to in a middle school, this National Funding Formula element is short-term and should be disregarded from 2020/21.

“The financial sustainability of the three tier system in Hexham for the maintained first and middle schools could be compromised,” he concluded.

“The case for change relies on unsupported assumptions that bigger is better.”

Consultation ended last month.