The first drawings of how Blyth’s new Academy could look will be unveiled in two special events to be held on 6 and 7 June.

Architects will display their designs for the Academy during public consultation as part of the planning process.

The plans for the Academy comprise two buildings, one for students aged 12-18 at the former Ridley High School site and a second for children aged 3-11 at the current South Beach First School site.

The Emmanuel Schools Foundation is hosting two open events when parents, students, local residents and school staff can view the plans and make comments.

David Vardy, project director of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation, said: “As we move towards the final decisions on the Academy, we have quite a challenging timetable to work to ready for opening in September 2009.

“Our intention is for local people to be involved from the outset so at this earliest opportunity we are inviting those with an interest in the Academy to come along and look at the drawings, to hear how we hope to resolve some of the planning issues that have been raised at earlier public meetings and to be part of the process.”

The meetings are at South Beach First School on Wednesday, June 6 from 3.15pm-8pm and at The Avenues Community Centre on Thursday, June 7 from 6pm-8.30pm.

They will be informal sessions with display boards of photographs, drawings and an artist’s impressions to view. Children from South Beach are also contributing with pictures of how they think their new school could look.

Representatives of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation will attend with architects from Howarth Litchfield Partnership and planning consultants Cundall.

The Emmanuel Schools Foundation has sponsored and project managed the building of three schools, all of which were built on time and on budget and have been applauded for their design.

Mr Vardy added: “Our plans are for an Academy that would be a centre of educational excellence comprising outstanding buildings. It would be a local, non-selective school for children who live within the specified catchment area ensuring that children from Blyth will be educated in their home town.

This is the report presenting the outcomes of further consultation in Blyth. This report will be considered in conjunction with the executive directors report of 5th March 07.

• Click here for more information about this report

We will be producing a regular newsletter containing the latest information on this project.

The School Organisation Committee unanimously decided that it is in the best interests of children if schools in Cramlington reorganise to a system of primary and secondary schools (from first, middle and high schools). The Committee made the final decision after examining evidence from Northumberland County Council, parents, teachers, governors and other interested parties.

• Click here to view newsletter

This is an update letter for parents and staff in the Cramlington Partnership to let them know that the six week Statutory Period for consultation on proposals for reorganisation is over, and to inform them that the School Organisation Committee will meet to consider the proposals on 15th December.

• Click here to view update letter

Newsletter 14 (Oct 2006)
This newsletter informs parents and staff, and other interested parties, that there is to be an exhibition held on three separate days in Cramlington to show the current planned extensions and the current planned layouts that would be implemented in schools if the reorganisation to the primary secondary structure is agreed.

• Click here to view newsletter 14

Newsletter 13 (Oct 2006) :
This newsletter updates parents and staff in the Cramlington Partnership on the outcome of the Executive meeting on 9th October that considered the consultation outcomes concerning the proposal from th Chair of Governors of Eastlea School. This proposal suggested that if any reorganisation of the partnership were to take place, Eastlea Primary School (as it would be) would move to the site of the current Burnside First School. The Executive approved this recommendation, and also gave permission for the publication of Statutory Notices concerning the proposed changes to all Cramlington Schools under the proposal to reorganise to a system of primary/secondary education.

• Click here to view newsletter 13

Newsletter 12 (Sept 2006) :
The County Council Executive agreed on 4th September that additional consultation should take place in Cramlington and with relevant consultees on the alternative proposal submitted by the Chair of Eastlea First School. No further decisions on the County Council's proposal for reorganisation of the partnership will take place until the results of this additional consultation are known. The consultation will run from 5th September 2006 until 4.00 p.m. on 22nd September.

• Click here to view newsletter/consultation document (Sept 2006)

Re-organisation Newsletter 11 (May 2006) :
Judge’s verdict on Judicial Review

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 11 (May 2006)

Re-organisation Newsletter 10 (March 2006) :
Update on Proposed Reorganisation of Cramlington Partnership

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 10 (March 2006)

Re-organisation Newsletter 8 (March 2006) :
In March 2006, a market testing exercise was carried out in relation to schools in Alnwick in the freehold ownership of the County Council.

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 8 (March 2006)

Re-organisation Newsletter 7 (Jan 2006) :

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 7 (Jan 2006)

Re-organisation Newsletter 6 (Sept 2005) :

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 6 (Jan 2006)

Re-organisation Newsletter 5 (Sept 2005) :

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 5 (Dec 2005)

Re-organisation Newsletter 4 (Sept 2005) :

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 4 (Oct 2005)

Re-organisation Newsletter 3 (Sept 2005) :
Progress with school discussions is the main them of this news update.

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 3 (Sept 2005)

Re-organisation Newsletter 2 (July 2005) :
Progress with school discussions is the main them of this news update.

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 2 (July 2005)

Re-organisation Newsletter 1 (April 2005) :
Here is the first newsletter since the decision was made on April 19th to re-organise Northumberland's Education System on the basis of a primary/secondary model. Find out what is happening in Stage 2 consultation in the first 6 partnerships to be re-organised.

• Click here to view the Re-organisation Newsletter 1 (April 2005)

Newsletter (Dec 2004):
This newsletter was sent to all parents to introduce the concept of Putting the learner first.

• Click here to view the Newsletter (Dec 2004)

Northumberland County Council is currently developing plans to improve the educational opportunities for young people ascross the county. As part of this we are looking into the possibility of developing two new school known as Academies in Blyth and Ashington. Funding for the Academies would come from the government and from a business sponsor. In Blyth, the proposed sponsor is Sir Peter Vardy who is alread sponsoring other successful schools through the Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF).

The document below gives you more information about the proposals. The document also tells outlines how you can get more information on ESF and how to apply to come on a visit to The King's Academy in Middlesbrough.

• Click here to view the Improving Opportunities for Young People in Blyth document

Further information on Academies can be seen on the Department for Education and Skills site at http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies/

Further information on the ESF can be found at http://www.emmanuel-schools.org.uk/

On Friday 16th June, the County Council Executive agreed to further consultation being carried out on the preferred two-tier model for reorganisation in the Cramlington Partnership from 19th June until 21st July 2006.

This consultation has been arranged in response to the Judgement arising from the Judicial Review brought by Parents for Legal Action against Northumberland County Council. You can read the full Judgement by following this link:

• Judicial Review Full Judgement
• Judicial Review, Supplementary Judgement containing Judge's Order

A consultation document has been sent to parents, staff, governors and other stakeholders outlining why the County Council is proposing a change to a two-tier system of education, including information on academic performance in Cramlington and certain other authorities who operate a three-tier system. The document also outlines the preferred model for schools in Cramlington and includes a response form.

A copy of the consultation document and supporting information are available for downloading. You may complete and return the consultation document to the address given if you wish. Meetings will take place at each school in the Cramlington Partnership and the dates can be seen in the table below.

• This report presents the outcome of the Judicial Review brought by Parents for Legal Action Ltd. (PFLA). It details the Judgement and the resulting Order of the High Court. It proposes an extended period of Stage 2 consultation required to comply with the High Court Order.[View All Documents ]

• A Hight Court judge has rejected claims that consultation work on a multi million pound schools project should be scrapped and started again. [Read Press Release]

• The County Council press release about the Judicial Review findings
• The Re-organisation Newsletter 11 (May 2006)
• Electronic copy of the judgment - PFLA v Northumberland

• Cramlington Partnership – Update on proposed reorganisation

Due to concerns over the achievability of any reorganisation in the Cramlington Partnership in September 2007 due to the additional grounds for challenge submitted by PFLA during the Judicial Review hearing in London on February 10th and 13th this year, the recommendation has been made in a report to the Executive meeting of March 13th to defer any proposed reorganisation until September 2008. The report below provides further details.

Main Document:

• Report to Executive 13-03-06