Row over school plans continues

Campaigners have demonstrated against the closure plans

Plans to spend millions on education in Northumberland would mean closing 45 middle schools, parents claim.

They also claim the county council plans would end the existing three-tier school system.

The council insists no final decision has been made and on Monday officials met parents to outline their proposals.

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

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

Key stages

Joe Ronan, whose four children go to Hexham First, Hexham Middle, and Hexham High schools, said: "Three tiers offers a much more socialising environment for the children.

"They move through schools much more suitable for their developmental stage, and increase in size as the children increase in confidence and sociability.

"Last night we were looking at the document which has been produced by the council, and it became clear that the bits that were missing from it were more interesting than what was in it."

The council has previously unveiled plans to spend £650m on schools over 10 years.

Brian Edwards, director of education with Northumberland County Council, said: "The present three-tier system is out of sync with the key stages of the national curriculum."

But he said there would be a three-stage consultation process.

"I think people would welcome the debate about it," he said.