The leader of Northumberland Labour has called for more meetings with affected residents ahead of a consultation on the future of schools in the Amble area.
Northumberland County Council launched the consultation on May 11 ahead of a £25.5m investment in the Coquet partnership of schools, which a switch to a two-tier system one potential route forward.
The schools are currently arranged in a three-tier system with first, middle and high schools - but leaders have identified a number of areas for improvement including the need to retain more pupils in the secondary years.
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The council has already said it will be holding a public event to answer questions about the consultation, set to take place on Saturday, June 11 in the Amble Masonic Hall.
However, schools in nearby Widdrington and Hadston would also be affected by the planned changes, and Labour leader Scott Dickinson has said more events should be held to cater for those residents who cannot drive or who work weekends.
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Coun Dickinson, who represents the Druridge Bay ward, said: "I have asked if more local meetings can take place for affected areas like Hadston, Widdrington and Red Row because it's difficult to get to meetings, find out information or express an opinion on the future of your schools if you have no car. The time also excludes people working during the day on a Saturday."
Coun Dickinson also urged local residents to have their say on the plans and said the future of the schools and the direction they took was up the community.
He continued: said: “Schools belong to the people living in the area, not the council. The consultation on our small community schools is really important. People need to understand what a primary and secondary system versus the current first, middle and high would look like.
“I would urge people to remember that the Conservative councillors have not decided. It's absolutely vital to make your voices heard. Anyone can; it's for the whole community to decide. These are your schools.”
The Conservative-led administration has already said it would not make any changes unless approved by a majority of residents. This point was reiterated by Coun Guy Renner Thompson, the cabinet member for children's services with responsibility for education.
Coun Renner Thompson added: "I would urge everyone to take part in the consultation. The school building programme has been led by communities, not by the county council."
On the need for additional consultation events, he continued: "The council is not proposing to run additional in-person events for the consultation on the Coquet Partnership. However, having learnt lessons from our previous new build consultations in Hexham, Ponteland, and Seaton Deleval, we are running a comprehensive online platform for consultation.
"Also, we have discussed with schools that if they inform us there is demand from a community to attend the in-person consultation event, the council will lay on free transport there and back."
