Protesters were yesterday given renewed hope that controversial plans for a mobile phone mast next to a popular Northumberland school could yet be stopped.

Telecoms giant Telefonica O² said there are 'many discussions still to be had' before it goes ahead with the 12.5m-high mast next to 450-pupil Darras Hall First School in Ponteland.

Hundreds of parents, local residents and businesses are strongly opposing the mast on The Broadway, which only got approval last year because of a county council planning blunder.

Click below for local schools' performance tables:

Ponteland Community High School - GCSE (2009), Post-16 (2009)

Richard Coates Church of England Middle School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Ponteland Middle School - Key Stage 2 (2009)

Comparative tables for Northumberland schools: Key Stage 2, GCSE, Post-16

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A Northumberland school has been given top marks for science.

Ofsted described the teaching of science at Ponteland High School as outstanding, with student achievement, the science curriculum and the way the school's science team is led and managed, all receiving the highest praise in the report.

Teaching standards also scored highly, with some lessons rated as outstanding.

A mini nature reserve at two Northumberland schools hides a special resident, discovered by a pupil. AMY HUNT reports

A project to revamp a nature area took an unexpected twist. The mini reserve at Ponteland High and Middle schools had existed for about 27 years, but it had become overgrown and started attracting litter.

Students from the school, along with teachers and the chair of governors, began a drive to tidy up the area, prune trees and clean the pond.

Going to school near an airport might mean you would become oblivious to the sound of planes flying low overhead.

And pupils at Ponteland Middle School have been helping make sure noise from Newcastle International Airport is managed and within Government guidelines.

The school is one of five locations around the airport where a noise monitoring device has been set up.

With sport high up on the agenda, pupils at Ponteland Middle School are not just happy - they're healthy too.

The school actively promotes healthy living, with 96% of the children getting at least five hours of sport per week.

It is an impressive amount of exercise but the children are not just being made to do it - they love taking part in the variety of games the school has to offer.

More than 130 students at a North East college gathered for ceremonies celebrating their awards and graduation.

The two events, held at the Northumberland College's Kirkley Hall campus near Ponteland, marked the 2009 students awards and higher education achievements.

They included 234 students who successfully completed higher education courses at the college and 78 who received prizes for accomplishments in a wide range of subjects.

At the ceremony students dressed in gowns and mortar boards to collect their certificates before an audience of 300 friends, family and college staff.

Principal Rachel Ellis-Jones said: "It was lovely to see so many graduates and guests."

Governors have decided to press ahead with plans to turn their Northumberland school into a charitable trust - despite continued opposition from their own teachers.

Ponteland High School's governing body is moving forward with its plan to become one of the Government's flagship foundation schools following three months of consultations with parents, students, staff, unions and the county council.

Official proposals will now be published in early November, giving people another opportunity to have their say, before a final decision in December - paving the way for foundation status from April next year.

A Ponteland school is to bid to become one of the Government's new flagship Foundation Schools.

Ponteland High School is set to formalise proposals to create a charitable trust.

As a foundation school, Ponteland High would still be part of the state system but with more freedom to guide its own future and closer ties to parents and the community.