Closure and merger plan for two schools put on hold

Parents at Langley school opposed plans for the merger

Plans to close or merge two schools have been put on hold to explore "potential viable options" following a consultation.

North Tyneside Council announced last month it was looking at a number of measures, including closing Monkseaton Middle School and merging Langley First and Appletree Gardens First schools, on the latter's site.

The authority has confirmed options had emerged for Monkseaton Middle School and Langley First School and it would pause the process to consider them.

However, plans to merge Forest Hall and Ivy Road primary on the site of Ivy Road, and Hazlewood and Greenfields community primary schools on the Greenfields site will move to consultation stage.

Julie Firth, director of children's services at the Labour-led council, said there had been a "genuine consultation" on the plans and people's input had been "invaluable".

"We have seen an incredible level of passion and commitment from these communities," she said.

Alternative proposals are being considered for some schools, while others are moving to a formal consultation stage

Simon Ward, head teacher at Langley First, said he was "really pleased" the school's voice had been heard.

"There's still a lot of work to be done," he said.

"It still means there will be changes in this school community, but we will retain our Langley identity."

Ms Firth said no viable alternatives were identified for the other schools and a statutory consultation would start on 4 December and run for four weeks.

The council blamed falling birth rates for the move.

It previously said it expected the number of school-age children in the borough to drop by about 3,000 by 2034, creating an untenable surplus of places.

Pupil numbers at Monkseaton Middle School have dropped by more than a third since 2016, and more than a third of places remain unfilled at Forest Hall and Ivy Road schools, the council said.

When the plans were announced, parents and staff at Langley School set up a campaign to oppose the proposals.