Parents’ anger at plans to merge and close schools

FAMILIES ARE LEFT WITH ‘MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS’ AFTER COUNCIL MEETINGS

- By AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE

PARENTS say they have been left with “more questions than answers” over council proposals to close and merge schools despite in-person meetings with local authority officials.

Families and carers in North Tyneside affected by the potential closure and merger of Langley Primary School and Monkseaton Middle School have vented their frustrations over live presentations held by council offices in recent days.

Langley faces closure and merger with nearby Appletree Gardens with Monkseaton Middle School also potentially facing closure.

Other mergers include the merger of Forest Hall Primary and Ivy Road Primary, and the merging of Greenfields and Hazlewood Primary School.

The council's proposals are subject to a six-week consultation until November 13 but have already sparked controversy and outrage throughout North Tyneside

The local authority has blamed declining birth rates, equivalent to 300 fewer children year-on-year since 2018/19, as one of the principal reasons the proposals are being considered.