A failing primary school in north Cumbria is to be taken over.

The William Howard Trust - a growing chain of academies in Cumbria - will be the new sponsor of Longtown Primary School.

It is hoped the necessary work for the move will be completed in time for the start of the new academic year in September.

The primary school was ruled to be inadequate by Ofsted inspectors in March with its leaders contesting the judgement, claiming it did not paint an "accurate picture".

Longtown Primary School has 188 pupils aged three to 11 years old.

The move will mean that the William Howard Trust, a not-for-profit organisation, will run four schools - William Howard School in Brampton, Workington Academy, Yewdale Primary School in Carlisle and Longtown's primary school.

The Longtown school is already a feeder school for William Howard School, a secondary school.

More in The Cumberland News tomorrow