Parent calls for 12-month extension on potential closing date for troubled high school

A Shiremoor mother has called for the possible closing date for Monkseaton High School to be extended for 12 months, if council bosses decide to shut it down

A Shiremoor mother is calling for extra time for a troubled high school in North Tyneside as questions over its future continue to arise.

On September 17, North Tyneside Council launched a public consultation on the future of Monkseaton High School, which includes potential closure by August 31, 2026. The local authority says a combination of low birth rates, parental choice and an expected deficit of £7m has raised major concerns over its future.

North Tyneside Council maintains that no decision has yet been made, and encourages residents, parents, and carers to contribute to the consultation to provide possible ideas to save the school.

However, Shiremoor mum Debbie Mclaughlin, 46, is calling for the school to remain open for another year, until 2027. Although Debbie doesn't want the school to close, she feels extending the possible closure deadline would be best for the pupils, including her 14-year-old son Elliot.

Debbie believes that teachers could be offered financial incentives to stick it out, alongside suggesting that retired teachers could be coaxed back to help temporarily. She also thinks the Year 9s will be unduly disrupted as a consequence of their prior experience during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Debbie said: "Whatever they do with the children, whether that's finding temporary classrooms etc, its going to cost money. It could be better used to keep the teachers there.

"The biggest argument they [council officers] had is it would not be nice for the kids to be on their own, whereas my son thinks it would be exciting. The biggest thing is to keep them with their friends and if the school closes that's not going to happen."

Debbie continued: "The transition from the lower schools for this year group was during Covid. It was a really mixed-up time for them.

"I know every single child was affected but it was during a transition year. The next transition is to High School and that has been blown up in the water because of this."

Julie Firth, director of children’s services at North Tyneside Council, said: “This is a consultation on the future of the school and no decisions have been made at this stage.

“We know that there are enough spaces in secondary schools in the borough now. Parental choice is important and while the consultation to find viable options remains open, we’re working with school leaders across the borough to identify where additional spaces could be made available if required.

“This includes ensuring that curriculum matches and that an enhanced transition would in place between schools.

“If the consultation moves to the next stage, we will share more details on these proposals. This would be in advance of an extraordinary admissions process which would take place in January 2025.”

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