Consultation to take place on a change of age ranges at two Bedlington schools

Councillors have agreed to launch an informal consultation on proposals for two Bedlington first schools to convert to primaries.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Northumberland County Council's cabinet agreed to a request from the governing bodies of Whitley Memorial CE First School and Bedlington West End First School to carry out a consultation on extending their age ranges from September 2020.

If the changes were to go forward, it would require a statutory proposal to be published, followed by a formal consultation.

The Bedlington Partnership is currently a mix, with the majority having switched to a two-tier system of primaries and secondaries, while these two first schools and Meadowdale [Middle] Academy remain as a three-tier set-up.

Since changing from high schools to secondary schools, Bedlington Academy and St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy have retained two annual intakes each September - at age 11 and age 13 - to reflect the mixed economy within the partnership.

However, from September 2020, both secondary academies will only accept pupils at 11 (Year 7).