A NEW era has dawned for one Prudhoe school as it completes its transformation into an academy.

Children who left Adderlane First School on Wednesday returned yesterday to the freshly minted Adderlane Academy.

In July the West Wylam school announced that it would join the WISE multi-academy trust. WISE Academies is a Department of Education-approved charity which incorporates a number of North-East schools.

On Wednesday children, staff and parents came together to mark the school’s transformation.

Every child was given a balloon, half blue to represent Adderlane and half were purple for WISE Academies.

At 2.45pm the balloons were released to fly together, a symbolic gesture to represent the coming together of two organisations.

Children were presented with their new uniforms for Adderlane Academy. Jumpers are still in the traditional blue but with a new WISE Academies logo.

Adderlane Academy is be the second Prudhoe academy, joining St Matthews Catholic Primary School, which is part of the St Thomas More Multi Academy Trust.

Since Adderlane fell into special measures in June 2015, headteacher Emma Potts and staff have been working tirelessly to recover its fortunes.

Mrs Potts said: “We were already well on our way to getting Adderlane to become a ‘good’ school. But that improvement will to be supported even more with this partnership with WISE Academies.

“We have been working with WISE Academies since the summer and we are already benefitting hugely from the support within the trust.”

“There are improvements in the school building due to this partnership.

“I think this partnership is only going to secure the improvements here.”