ALNWICK'S Duchess's High School has the worst facilities in Northumberland

Heads say high school has worst facilities in the county

ALNWICK'S Duchess's High School has the worst facilities in Northumberland.
That’s the view of headteachers throughout the county and education bosses at Northumberland County Council as revealed by Duchess’s headteacher Maurice Hall at the school’s annual prize-giving.
Mr Hall, a former Duchess’s pupil, said a new school was long over-due and criticised the lack of progress on building one.
But he said that when it does happen it will be a “once in a lifetime chance to do something extraordinary”.
The county council plans to build a new high school as part of proposals to scrap the current three-tier system. A site off Weaver’s Way has been earmarked for the development.
Mr Hall said: “I see little tangible progress in what is becoming a worrying state of affairs.
“What we have at present in the way of facilities are becoming more and more stretched.
“Over the last 12 months I have had conversations with colleagues from other schools in Northumberland when they have visited here or when I have been shown around their schools.
“I have also talked with officers from the local authority. There is no doubt in all of their minds that this school has the worst facilities in Northumberland.
“Thinking about all of this, it grates to regularly read of the millions of pounds being spent in Cramlington, the millions being prepared to be spent in Ashington and Blyth, and the extra monies that other schools get up and down the country. And we sit here waiting to hear if we might be next, with no real prospect of any new buildings before 2010.”
Mr Hall said he believed there were discussions going on about the new school and reorganisation in the Alnwick area.
But he said: “I am not party to the detail of these discussions, but I don’t think it is rocket science to work out that two of the key players are the county council and Northumberland Estates.
“I really would like these two organisations to genuinely value our young people in the Alnwick area and come up with a way forward as soon as possible.
“The headteachers of the Alnwick Partnership want to help.
04 January 2007