Massive school investment planned

Campaigners have demonstrated against the closure plans

A council has unveiled plans to spend £650m on education in Northumberland over the next 10 years.

Northumberland County Council intends to spend the money improving services and replacing crumbling schools.

The plans are part of a massive education shake-up and could involve the closure of 45 middle schools.

Officials are also considering a controversial move to switch from a three to a two-tier system which many parents are against.

But the council insists no decisions have been made and on Monday sent out 60,000 letters to parents outlining proposals.

'Not about money'

Councillor Jim Wright, executive member for the council's children's services, said: "Change is difficult, but doing nothing is not an option.

"We will only make progress if we work together on the challenges that face education in Northumberland.

"This is not about money. I know that we can drive education in the county forward to reach the excellent standards that we desire."

The overhaul could mean an end to the three-tier system of first, middle and high schools.

The council has said it needs to act quickly to reduce more than 7,000 surplus places, and scrapping middle schools would raise standards of learning.

But campaigners claim there is little evidence to show that two-tier education can improve on the three-tier structure.

Proposals will go before a full council meeting on 8 December and a three-month consultation may follow.

Council officials claim there is evidence to show that pupils benefit from only one transfer of schools at age 11, rather than two.