Animal sanctuary lost to pupils if school shuts

The animal club at Monkseaton Middle School has been described as a "lifeline" for its pupils

An animal club described as a "sanctuary" for children will be lost if a school closure goes ahead.

Campaigners say children at Monkseaton Middle School (MMS), which North Tyneside Council announced it wanted to shut last month, will lose out if access to their headteacher's animals is taken away.

Animal Club, which has a dedicated classroom at the school near the coastal town of Whitley Bay, houses rescue animals brought in by head teacher Kirsty Nichols-Mackay to help pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Ms Nichols-Mackay, who owns the animals, said the club offers children "reassurance" and a "calm presence that's non-judgmental".

It has dogs, hamsters, African land snails, gerbils, tortoises, guinea pigs, terrapins and bearded dragons.

Children are taught how to look after the animals, and work as animal technicians, feeding, cleaning and caring for the creatures.

Campaigners say the school is a highly inclusive setting thanks to its animal club

Ms Nichols-Mackay said: "The dogs are really good for children with anxiety who are worried about school.

"Children who don't like reading, or perhaps struggle with social anxiety, will often find comfort in reading and talking to the animals instead."

Ms Nichols-Mackay, who became head in 2018 and has a qualification in Animal Biology, says she takes responsibility for the ongoing costs of the animals.

She said the club had "minimal impact" on the school budget with the only expense being for an outside fence for the dog area.

Campaigners say if the school shuts, following a public consultation due to end on 13 November, the animals would reside with Ms Nichols-Mackay at her own cost.

"We know that teaching children to look after animals when they're young has a long-term impact on how they develop as individuals," the head teacher said.

"It helps them see the world in a different way, it makes them more compassionate."

The animal club has a collection of rescue pets from bearded dragons to dogs

Nearly half the school's 205 pupils have special educational needs and disabilities - more than double the national average for a mainstream school.

Parents and pupils have mounted a national campaign to stop the closure.

If unsuccessful, the closure will be confirmed in January and the children will be relocated to other schools.

Emma Lowden, mother of year 7 pupil, Lana, said: "Monkseaton Middle is more than just a school.

"It's a lifeline for children and families like mine, if it closes, my daughter will simply not be able to attend school."

Simon Laing, father of Oscar, a year 5 pupil, said: "The staff go above and beyond to help him feel safe and supported.

"This is something that cannot be replicated elsewhere."

Head teacher Kirsty Nichols-Mackay says she will keep all the animals if the school shuts

The council said MMS's pupil numbers had dropped by more than a third - down from 333 to 205 - since 2016, due to falling national birth rates.

It added that surplus places were also expected to increase from 40% to 59% by 2033.

Julie Firth, the council's director of children's services, said: "We understand how upsetting and uncertain these proposals are, and we are truly sorry for the stress they may cause.

"These are not decisions we make lightly, but we must act now to safeguard the long-term future of high-quality education in our borough.

"We deeply value the strong connections our communities have with their schools, and we recognise how unsettling this process will be for pupils, families and staff."

She also said that despite efforts to address falling pupil numbers it was "essential" to ensure the school system was "sustainable".

The authority said the closure and mergers of six other schools would help "improve outcomes and create schools where young people thrive".