A MAJOR new intiative to turn around struggling schools in the North-East is under way.

Last night the Northern Education Trust – hailed as the first multiacademy educational trust based in the North-East – was formally launched in Durham City.

Starting off with four schools under its management, including the rapidly-improving North Shore Academy in Stockton, it hopes to be involved in running a total of 12 schools within a year.

Northern Education Trust (Net) is a Government-approved not-forprofit charity which will work with schools across the North of England in a bid to drive up educational standards.

The three other schools under its management are Kearsley Academy and Ferns Primary Academy, in Bolton, West Yorkshire, and Ryecroft Primary Academy, in Bradford, Lancashire.

It has the backing of the former Education Secretary Estelle Morris, now Baroness Morris of Yardley, who is chairwoman of Northern Education, the leading education consultancy which is sponsoring the Net.

Last night, Baroness Morris told The Northern Echo: “The partnership will not be one forced on schools but built round a tough and ambitious agenda to be at the forefront of the next stage of education improvement.”

North Shore Academy opened in 2010, when Blakeston and Norton schools merged, following a poor Ofsted report.

The academy now has a dynamic new headmaster Bill Jordan and is due to move into a new £18m campus in April.

Discussions are under way with a further four schools in Hartlepool, Newcastle, Bradford and Calderdale.

Northern Education has provided support to failing schools in more than 20 local authorities since it was established 11 years ago.

Roger Alston has been appointed chief executive of Northern Education Trust which will be chaired by Les Walton, a leading education specialist.

Academies managed by Net will aim to deliver the highest levels of attainment in English and maths and will encourage self-management.

Net believes that strong leadership within schools is critical to their success and wants to develop strong relationships with local government, industry, commerce and higher education, as well as the sports and arts sectors.

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “Schools are the incubators that nurture, encourage and inspire the entrepreneurs, innovators and future leaders of industry that will help drive the economy forward.”

The Net headquarters is at the Cobalt Business Park, on North Tyneside.