A MUCH-CRITICISED academy trust which failed to turn around the fortunes of a school in special measures, before walking out and leaving it, has been blamed for continued slow progress at the school.

Haydon Bridge High School, which has been in special measures for four years, has just received another critical Ofsted report, but Northumberland County Council said this week that the legacy left by the Bright Tribe trust meant full recovery would take time.

Ofsted inspectors visited the school in October.

The latest monitoring report identified a number of ongoing problems at the school. Middle leadership, teaching in some subjects, and the school’s action plan came under fire.

However, there were some positives for the school, which was taken back under local authority control earlier this year following a troubled spell under Bright Tribe.

The work of headteacher Darren Glover and the new Interim Executive Board was praised, as was the school’s safeguarding policy and community spirit.

Coun. Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children’s services said: “Recovery and improvement takes time, particularly given the level of legacy issues inherited from the lack of intervention provided by Bright Tribe at Haydon Bridge.

“I am pleased that the inspector has acknowledged that some good progress has been made even in a short space of time.”

Mr Glover added: “We have a strong Executive Board with a wide skill set overseeing our improvement.

“Our children are our greatest ambassadors, and the inspector rightly commented upon their positive attitudes and conduct, which as always was a credit to the school and their parents.

“It is in their ever-stronger attitudes and hard work that the future of the school and our community lies. Our priority is to provide them with an environment conducive to that.”