Sir Alan Campbell MP opens North Tyneside school saved from closure
A Monkseaton school, saved from closure, has begun its new life with an official opening by Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell.
Parents, staff, and families gathered to see Monkseaton Coastal School return for the autumn term, nine months after the site was originally proposed for closure.
The school, formally Monkseaton Middle School, was saved from closure by the local authority following public outrage.
In October last year, the local authority put a raft of controversial closures and mergers of local schools out to public consultation, citing a declining birth rate, which it said would result in 300 fewer children a year.
Monkseaton Middle School was proposed for closure amid a 60% occupancy rate and concerns over its long-term financial position.
However, by March this year, the council revised its proposal to expand the school’s year groups to help secure its future.
Sir Alan said: “The opening of the new Monkseaton Coastal School is a significant moment for our local community and I was pleased to be asked to open it this morning officially.
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and strong local schools play a vital role in helping young people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to succeed.
“I am pleased to see this new chapter begin and want to pay tribute to parents, staff and governors and everyone who has worked so hard to make it possible.
“I look forward to seeing Monkseaton Coastal School go from strength to strength and become an even greater asset for local families in the years ahead.”
The school is now transforming from a Year 5 to Year 8 middle school into a full Year 5 to Year 11 institution.
The expansion will be phased, with the school bringing in its first Year 9 cohort in September next year, followed by Year 10 in 2028 and Year 11 in 2029.