Whitley Bay campaigners criticise council over 'minimum' engagement during Monkseaton High School consultation
by Austen Shakespeare · ChronicleLiveParents defending the future of Monkseaton High School have criticised North Tyneside Council following claims it has 'kept public engagement throughout this consultation period to a minimum'.
North Tyneside Council launched a consultation on the future of Monkseaton High, including possible closure by August 2026, six weeks ago stating that parental preference, low birth rates, and a predicted financial deficit of £7m placed the school’s future in doubt. The news sparked outrage from parents, generating a petition amassing 2,856 signatures, and the creation of the Monkseaton High School Parents Campaign Group.
The deadline for public contributions closes at noon on Wednesday, October 30.
A statement issued by the Monkseaton High School Parents Group said: “Despite petitions, public meetings and direct requests for audiences with North Tyneside Council officers, North Tyneside Council has kept public engagement throughout this consultation period to a minimum of online FAQs and a meeting of limited information for current Monkseaton High School students and their families.
“The pending threat of closure leaves hundreds of children in North Tyneside oblivious to where they will receive a High School education and sit their GCSEs as schools in the North East Planning Area of North Tyneside are full and oversubscribed. The schools that do have spaces in North Tyneside are as far as nine miles away from where the children currently, live and go to school and they are in the two-tier rather than three-tier system thus creating hugely disrupted curriculum pathways as well as concerns of safety and wellbeing.
“North Tyneside Council have predicted further closures to First and Middle schools to follow. The wider community watches on in anticipation as the future of over 700 children aged 5-14 in the Whitley Bay three-tier system remains uncertain.”
The statement concluded: “The Parents Campaign Group urges all those who are eligible to complete the public consultation. We request that all decision-makers scrutinise the quality of information being used in this process and make the decision not in isolation based on the finances of one school but with the understanding of how the closure of Monkseaton High School will affect the whole community and school network in North Tyneside”
In response to the group 's statement, Julie Firth, director of Children’s services at North Tyneside Council said: “We recognise the impact this consultation has had on young people and families in the borough. No one wants to be consulting on the future of the school, but we are clear that without changes beyond our control, it is not possible for the Council to secure the future of the school.
“Our residents and those in the wider education community have had the opportunity to not only submit viable options through our consultation but to share their feedback with us. Responses have been read and considered twice a week throughout the six-week consultation period.
“I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t already, to take part in the consultation before it closes today.”
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.