A £6M funding boost has been announced to turn around the fortunes of a school that has been in special measures for four years.

Northumberland County Council is spending the money on Haydon Bridge High School, after taking back control of the school last year – following a failed bid to run it by the Bright Tribe trust.

The investment includes £4.5m on building works, which are due to start in April, with a new vocational centre as well as improvements to the current school buildings planned.

The last Ofsted inspection in October remained critical of the school, but at this month’s Tynedale Local Area Council meeting the council’s director of education, Dean Jackson, outlined a range of improvements.

A further £1.54m has been allocated to support the school with the development of a new curriculum, leadership and management support, and a staff training programme.

Additional support has been provided for pastoral care and maths, as well as a leadership consultant. And former county council director of education, Andy Johnson, now chairs the Interim Executive Board – which is tasked with implementing the improvements.

Coun. Wayne Daley said: “It’s now down to the community of Haydon Bridge to put their faith in the school because it’s a really good school.”

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