Parents ‘sobbing’ over school closure threat

ARENTS and staff continue to rally behind a “life changing” North Tyneside middle school amid proposals which could see it close by 2027.

- AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE Local democracy reporter [e-mail]

Monkseaton Middle School headteacher, Kirsty Nichols-Mackay

Families have been left reeling by the prospect of losing the school with some parents “sobbing everyday” over two weeks on from the launch of the consultation.

The future of mainstream Monkseaton Middle School has been left hanging in the balance following North Tyneside Council's decision to hold a consultation on possibly closing the school earlier this month. The move forms just one part of a series of controversial proposals, which would also see six primary schools merge into three.

In the midst of the uncertainty, Monkseaton Middle School's headteacher, Kirsty Nichols-Mackay, stressed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that normal service and the wellbeing of pupils continues to be a priority at the school. However, the school boss went on to say the impact of a potential closure could be far reaching.

Ms Nichols-Mackay said: “We are very good at delivering high quality and inclusive education here, we are creative. We have a great reputation for children who are neurodivergent, about a quarter of our children are neurodiverse.”

The head continued: “It [closure] would have a significant negative impact on the wellbeing of the children and the wellbeing of parents. A number of our pupils previously hadn't been going to school, that means parents can go and work and that's a massive impact.

“We have got children who have come in from elective home education who are successful here. We have parents who have sobbed every day since the announcement’.