Star is 'heartbroken' over school's closure

SCHAK says the impending closure of his former high school “breaks [his] heart” as he reveals how it became a “lifeline” for the now international DJ.

- By Nicole Goodwin

Monkseaton High School's presentation evening

Monkseaton High School is set to close in August 2026 due to its low pupil numbers, low local birth rates, and a predicted deficit of £7m.

But it’s a decision which saddens Schak, from North Shields, who believes he would have “ended up in prison” if it wasn’t for the support he received during his time at the secondary school.

Speaking last week at one of the last major academic events in the school’s history he revealed that teachers “believed in me when others didn’t”

He said: “Monkseaton wasn't just a school to me - it was a lifeline. Without the teachers there, I honestly believe I would have ended up in prison. They guided me, saw my abilities, and believed in me when others didn’t. Their faith changed everything.