MP hits out at 'underfunding' of high school

HEXHAM MP Joe Morris has criticised a lack of investment in a Northumberland high school despite a multi-million pound refurbishment five years ago.

- JAMES ROBINSON

The Labour MP has been criticised over his remarks by local Conservative politicians after he called for an improvement of facilities at Haydon Bridge High School. The school, which is currently rated as “requires improvement” by Ofsted, received a £4m council-funded refurbishment in 2020.

Proposals to close the school were brought forward in 2017 under Labour, but rejected by the Government, with the school rated as “inadequate” by the education watchdog at the time. The Conservative-led administration also consulted on closing the site, but backtracked following a backlash from the local community.

Speaking in Parliament’s Westminster Hall, Mr Morris accused the Tories at County Hall of “ignoring” students’ needs and claimed the school had been “underfunded”.