THE future is set to be bright for pupils across the district as they prepare for the arrival of new school builds.

Recent investment from Northumberland County Council has seen millions ploughed into developments across the Tyne Valley to improve facilities for young people.

In March, work began on the new schools for Hexham - one of the largest new schools developments in Northumberland.

The £36.1m project, which will see Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School redeveloped on the site of the current high school, will bring state-of-the-art, new buildings and facilities for students at both schools, as well as sports and leisure facilities available for community use.

The project is being funded largely by Northumberland County Council with a contribution from the Government’s Department for Education.

In light of the council’s commitment to climate change and reducing emissions, an additional £400,000 will be invested in sustainability measures, looking to ensure that the new buildings achieve an energy EPC A rating.

The project received a further boost in July with news of a £482,575 grant towards a new, all-weather, 3G, artificial grass sports pitch awarded to Hadrian Learning Trust and Northumberland County Council by the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The schools are expected to open September 2021.

Meanwhile, in the midst of a global pandemic, the next step towards completion of Ponteland’s multi-million pound, new school and leisure development got underway with works creating new accesses for the school.

The £43m development is set to house a 1,600 pupil secondary school, a 420-pupil primary school, a 52-place nursery, a leisure centre and pool, a library and a cafe.

And just this month, work progressed on the £2.65m new school build project in Haltwhistle.

The former middle school is being upgraded to create home to a new primary school for the town, while also continuing to provide a space for community activities and the children’s centre.

Students at Haydon Bridge High School are reaping the benefits of its £4m makeover, which has seen improvements across the main buildings, its vocational centre, sports centre and the addition of a multi-use games area.