Schools minister Lord Adonis said that he had sanctioned the first so-called 'matrix' academy to be created in Ashington, where three primaries on separate sites will feed into a secondary under a central management system to serve a total of 2,200 children.

The Hirst Academy will be sponsored by the Diocese of Newcastle and the Duke of Northumberland.

Making the announcement that the government is giving the go-ahead for the project, Lord Adonis said the Hirst Academy would import a Finnish model of education.

Finland scores highest on most international league tables for education.

"Countries like Finland are often cited for their all-through schools which provide one seamless education for children through primary and secondary age," said Lord Adonis.

"There are obvious benefits to this style of education and in Ashington we can bring that continuity, while making use of existing school sites, with the option of building extra new facilities where needed.

"This is another innovative development in the academy programme that will drive up standards of education for local children.

"This isn't invention for its own sake – we've looked at what needs to happen in Ashington and developed a model that answers that need."

The plans for Ashington – which would receive £46m in government funding – are aimed at tackling problems of academic underachievement, surplus places and poor school buildings in the Hirst High School pyramid, the Government says.

It involves the closure of nine schools in August 2009 – Hirst High, Ashington, Seaton Hirst and Newbiggin middle schools, as well as Coulson Park, Hawthorn, Welbeck, Alexandra, Newbiggin Moorside and Newbiggin Windsor first schools.

They will be replaced by a new 1,720-student academy on the Hirst High site, with secondary, primary and special educational needs elements.

Three primary academies – catering for youngsters aged three to 11 – will also be created, forming a "matrix" of education in the partnership.

Lord Adonis said he hopes including children as young as three in the matrix will help improve basic skills in primary schools.

Nationally one in five children start secondary school unable to read, write or do maths at the expected level.