Plans have been lodged for the construction of Northumberland's second privately-sponsored academy school as part of a £48m education shake-up affecting three neighbouring communities.

Education officials at the county council have submitted a planning application to demolish Hirst High School in Ashington and build the new academy - sponsored by the Duke of Northumberland and the Church of England - on adjacent land.

The new building will cater for almost 2,000 junior, senior and special educational needs children, and form the centrepiece of the five-site Hirst Academy.

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View Key Stage 2 test results for Druridge Bay Community Middle School.

For exam results from local high schools, special schools and Northumberland College see these pages on the Ashington, Morpeth and Amble microsites.

View comparative tables for Northumberland schools: Key Stage 2, GCSE, Post-16.

On Sunday 22 November, Amble's Christmas lights switch-on was marked by the annual Lantern Parade.

For the third time in a row, a Northumberland school has been rated "outstanding" - making it one of the best performing in the country.

Ellington First School was visited by Government inspectors, Ofsted, recently and their findings have just been published.

From left, Ewan Williams, Lydia Fraser, Billy Hays, Robyn Lang, Benjamin Graham and Amy Watson

The report describes the school as outstanding in all categories, which is the highest grade possible.

Proud teachers at a Northumberland school were enjoying double celebrations yesterday after two separate sets of twins chalked up cracking exam results.

The sibling success stories were among the highlights at Morpeth's King Edward VI High School, as twin sisters Amy and Rebecca Gibbison and brothers David and Lee Redpath amassed an amazing 36 A* and A grades between them.

Rebecca, left, and Amy Gibbison

Amy and Rebecca achieved 19 A* and A grades, while David and Lee managed a total of 17.

Druridge Bay Middle School prides itself on keeping its pupils busy with a fantastic range of activities designed to get the best out of school life.

The Druridge Bay 10k charity run was a huge event for the school, with student Holly Moscrop winning a competition to design the shirts given to the participants on the day and Year 8 pupil Brydie Smith winning the under-16s race.

Pupils remember their tragic young playmate Philippa Callaghan, who died from cancer last year, by holding a special day and spelling out PIP in the playground

Another important event for the school was the recent 'PIP day' (pictured), held in memory of former pupil Philippa Callaghan who died from cancer last year, which was organised by Pip's sister Zoë and her friends Chelsea, Katy and Frances.

A major review is to be carried out amid fears that a declining population in Northumberland will force the closure of more small schools and harm rural communities.

A working group of county councillors will be given the task of investigating the likely future impact of demographic change on the demand for school places across the county.

It will try to identify how many schools are at risk of closure because of falling rolls and how council policies - such as in new housing development - can help tackle the problem.

Sixth form students at an Ashington school have been given an insight into the world of business, thanks to a link-up with one of the county's biggest employers.

The students from Hirst High School received a masterclass in human resources work in an event organised by Lynemouth-based Rio Tinto Alcan and the Wansbeck Enterprise Education Network.

The aim of the session was to provide the students, who are studying A-Level Applied Business, with a real-life insight into HR in a genuine business setting.

A top headteacher has been appointed to take charge of a huge new school in Northumberland.

Phil Hearne, who will lead the joint primary and secondary school academy in Ashington, was the head of Edgware School in London when it became a city academy.

During his time there it was ranked "outstanding" by Ofsted.