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Northumberland Council Reveals Three Design Options for New Berwick Academy

Council proposals detail costs, timelines and school reorganisations under the move to a two-tier system.

By Berwick News Desk · Published 25 July 2026

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Northumberland County Council has unveiled two design options each valued at £42 million for a new Berwick Academy to replace the existing facility as part of the shift from a three-tier to a two-tier school system.

Why the announcements matter at this stage

The proposals arrive as the area prepares for major adjustments in how schools are organised. Berwick, Tweedmouth and Glendale Middle Schools face closure on August 31 2026. First schools will convert to primary schools from September 2025. Berwick Academy itself will become an 11 to 18 secondary academy from September 2026. These coordinated dates mean families and staff can plan around a single set of changes rather than staggered adjustments over several years.

Cost figures and funding background

The overall estimated cost for the new high school project has moved from £59 million to £64 million. A request for £13 million in additional government funding from the Department for Education was not approved because of limits on available funding streams. Council officials have therefore presented the two £42 million design options as the current basis for moving the project forward within the revised total.

Construction schedule and continuity measures

Work on the new building is scheduled to start in summer 2027. The facility is expected to open in September 2028. During the construction period students will continue to use the current Berwick Academy building so that teaching and learning are not interrupted. This approach keeps the focus on maintaining day-to-day operations while the new site is prepared.

Officials have presented the plans through public documents and statements that set out both the design choices and the funding position. The details allow local residents to see exactly how the council intends to deliver the new academy within the available budget. Further updates are expected as the project moves through the remaining planning stages before construction begins.