Former primary school earmarked for demolition

There are plans to turn former Epinay Business and Enterprise School into a "free school"

Plans have been put before South Tyneside Council to turn a vacant primary school into a specialist free school.

The former Epinay Business and Enterprise School, off Clervaux Terrace in Jarrow, has been empty since it moved to the former South Shields School site in 2022.

The buildings are earmarked for demolition.

The new school would cater for four- to 11-year-old pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, but is awaiting government confirmation, according to the Local Democracy Service.

The council previously said the 56-place primary school would allow more children with additional needs to receive education in South Tyneside, rather than travelling outside the borough.

'Significant demand'

Speaking in March 2023, councillor Adam Ellison, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “There is significant demand for primary special school provision in South Tyneside, with higher than national levels of children needing support.

"Providing specialist education tailored to students’ unique needs is vital in ensuring that all of our children can learn, grow and achieve."

The planning application adds: “The building is vacant and surplus to the council’s requirements and is in a poor state of disrepair with a high volume of asbestos material within the structure of the prefabricated clasp construction."

If approved, demolition of the old Epinay site would start in March, and would include the removal of all access roads, footpaths, car park areas and playground areas.