WITH all eyes at present turned to Europe, the future of our education system may not be top of the new Prime Minister’s agenda.

But along with the health of the nation’s economy, it is surely her most pressing domestic challenge.

Over the past few days, with the uncertainty over the future of the three-tier structure in Ponteland and news that another of our schools – Adderlane First School – is opting to turn itself into academy, confusion reigns.

Unless Mrs May and her ministers come off the fence and spell out exactly what system they want in place, we will have to witness school after school choosing independence as their best option for survival.