THE future of a North Tyne school is up in the air again after the Office for Schools Adjudicator agreed to meet parents later this month.

The decision to close Bellingham Middle School was unanimously voted through by the council’s cabinet in July, following a series of consultations on the future of education in the west of Northumberland.

But the school’s governors made a last minute appeal to the Office for Schools Adjudicator on July 30, and a public meeting at the school will now be held in early November.

The middle school headteacher was contacted, but declined to comment.

The news followed a meeting at Bellingham Town Hall, where campaigners issued a rallying cry to parents, urging them to send their objections to the adjudicator.

Campaigner Joyce Knudsen said: “Parents have got to step up. It’s parents, grandparents and members of staff that will be listened to.”

However, Coun. John Riddle, who represents Bellingham, issued a word of caution about the appeal.

He said: “They can appeal on the process. If the process has been done correctly, I don’t think there’s any way they will be able to change it.”