'They will regret this' - Readers have their say on Monkseaton High School closure row

Council bosses say that there is no "viable alternative" to closing a high school in North Tyneside - but some ChronicleLive readers in our comments section think it would be short-sighted to let it close.

Monkseaton High School at Whitley Bay has been the subject of a six-week consultation, which attracted more than 900 responses and drew an additional 2,600 signatures to a separate petition. Despite this, North Tyneside Council reported that “the closure of Monkseaton High School is considered necessary on the basis that it is no longer viable."

The council cites low pupil number trends, costs, and an availability of school places in the surrounding area in their plan to continue with plans to close the high school. Education chiefs have blamed low birth rates, a predicted deficit of £7 million, higher than average running costs and the fact that the school is operating at just over 50% of its capacity for the decision.

Reader Patcher thinks that there could be other solutions besides closure: "There are fewer children in primary schools so numbers will fall even further in coming years. The new builds around Monkseaton have had no impact on its numbers - parents choose other schools. Monkseaton Middle School is also half-empty.

"However, given that there is absolutely no post-16 provision in Cullercoats or North Shields, it's beyond me why the council don't apply for it to become a specialist 6th form facility - focused on vocational education courses. That is what is needed locally."

Commenter Livinhope says: "Could well be a decision that they come to regret, last time I drove past the hospital the amount of new house building was insane. These will ultimately need schools and services." WorkieT agrees: "Up to 2,700 new homes to be built on land next to the school but no more kids will want to go there? Beggars belief!”

Bob1111111 writes: "20 million spent on this and in less than 15 years shut? Another waste of money from the local authorities/government." Tom Makepeace thinks the same: "Poor planning. The school should never have been built if it isn't needed 15 years after being built at a cost of millions."

JohnHenderson says: "Based on current facts closure soon would seem to be the right decision. But why was it ever built in the first place - someone got their figures wrong!"

KEGS11 writes: "You can't fight the tide. With the school operating at less than 50% capacity now, and low numbers in surrounding primary schools, this is the right decision. You can't keep losing money year, after year, on this white elephant/brick."

Llan0110 says that they saw the writing on the wall for Monkseaton High School: "You could tell that it was cut and dried last year, when they mentioned it in the newspapers. Absolutely disgraceful."

The council is now set to launch a second phase of consultation on the plans, asking for feedback on the proposal to close the school from August 31, 2026. That statutory consultation period is due to run for four weeks from Friday, November 15.

North Tyneside Council’s director of children’s services Julie Firth said: “The community has displayed a real passion for Monkseaton High School, and I am thankful for the time and effort taken by everyone who expressed their views as part of the consultation. After careful consideration and analysis of all submissions, it was clear that no viable alternatives or options were put forward as part of the pre-publication consultation."

Have your say! Could Monkseaton High School have a future in a different form? Or is closure the only way? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

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