APPENDIX 2: Responses to the pre-consultation survey question 2
Appendix 2: Responses to the pre-consultation question ‘what suitable alternative proposal to the closure of Monkseaton High School would you suggest? These responses are as written by respondents to the pre-consultation question, the only amendments made are to maintain confidentiality and remove any information that could identify any individuals.
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Letting part of the school be rented out to children who have etos, local.businesses/university student/ looking at sen schools and offering provision . Selling of part ofnthe land to developers thus bringing in more chdren. Advertising further afield. Offering other schools the chance for pupils to attend lessons only offered at MSH. |
2 local schools under one government body |
Changing to secondary - the school has the capacity to take on two extra year groups. Currently three primary schools, Shiremoor, Backworth and Holystone filter towards Longbenton or George Stephenson however the proximity of Monkseaton could make it attractive option if it could take Year 7 pupils. |
Monkseaton High School should close. In the short term Whitkey High should retain their old building to allow them to increase their PAN and offer spaces to pupils who are in Monkseaton. In the long term the area should move to a two tier system following Ponteland and Gosforth who have made successful investments and successfully completed the transition. The national Curriculum is set up to measure at the end of each phase of education the 3 tier system is not aligned with national standards. |
Fund raising within the local area, this does not just effect pupils in year 9 but all other schools in the area from those currently attending first schools and middle schools who would later move onto high school. This also effects our two tier schools because class sizes will increase. Get the local area fund raising to try and help. Also start a petition to send to government, the whole of North Tyneside should sign this which will get enough numbers to stand out in Government |
I would propose to close the school and merge existing pupils into the surrounding infrastructure with investment (or to keep the existing old buildings at whbs open). While additional building was complete. |
I have grown up in the Whitley Bay Area and in my day the high school places were equally distributed between Monkseaton and Whitley bay high. Why should Whitley high take 480 of the school places? Allocate them 100 less and send the kids to Monkseaton high. My son went to Wellfield middle and only around 20 of the 90 kids went to Monkseaton. Make the allocations fair. It is North Tyneside who manages the allocation process so it is within grasp to be able to do this. |
Merging with Whitley Bay High |
Keep it open due to the increase in houses being built children will need local schools and not have to travel miles to a school |
Merge another small high school into the monkseaton building . Also with all the new houses being built the intake will be higher . |
Very simple ensure local middle schools feed into this high school, both Marden bridge and monkseaton middle should both be feeders into this school also Wellfield |
I believe that changing the school to a secondary school would be a viable option that would ensure that there is no overcrowding in other schools around North Tyneside. |
I would suggest. Turning this into a secondary school from year 7. Also expanding the sixth form provision. There is more than enough space within the grounds to build an additional building for a sixth form hub which, would be purpose built, just like Newcastle sixth form college in Newcastle. |
Joint sixth form for North Tyneside. Similar to old sixth form college |
I would suggest a temporary partnership with Churchill if this is possible. With the issues at Churchill with the building and the space at Monkseaton, why not divert the pupils to Monkseston whilst the issues with the buildings are resolved. If funding could be diverted surely this will lower the deficit monkseaton faces. |
Asking around to see what makes parents not want their kids to go to Monkseaton, then improving whatever flaws there is. (e.g : a parent says they’ve heard education isn’t good, they’ve seen exam results and aren’t impressed, etc etc etc. You then would improve quality of learning.) |
Merging with another local school to share facilities and cost |
Public fundraising via media. Postpone closure, based on new housing development adjacent to the school - where will children from all the new houses go? Surely the numbers will increase. Prevent over-subscribing at Whitley Bay High School - alter the catchment area boundaries to ensure more children fall in to the catchment area of Monkseaton High. |
I do not have any other proposal. However what I want to see is the proposed redistribution of catchment areas for high schools in the area. As a parent of two children who moved to Whitley bay to be in a good schooling area, I want the reassurance that my children will be able to go to high school within the Whitley Bay Area and not be moved to norham/john Spence etc. this is a huge area of worry and will likely further drive excessive house prices in the Whitley bay high school catchment area |
Make the school a secondary school |
This is not the current schools problem the school is a success and other schools at capacity where would kids go?? |
So in a time of more housings being built (300 opposite the school) and family's moving to the area you choose to close a school? You have caused the low number issue by pushing students to other schools! Whitley Bay has 1744 with a capacity of 1700 so no wonder they're in profit. Send a few hundred to Monkseaton, according to school dash the amount of money received per student is higher. |
Closing sixth form or making it a secondary school |
Change to a 2 tier system and have a sixth form. |
Becoming an Academy |
Rebuild on the site a more affordable building. Where it is more affordable to replace or fix things. Where it can serve the community with sports etc which is the schools legacy. Or rebrand it with a new name, new team, as I don’t think you can turn around the reputation so easily as it is. |
my child has just started at the school and proposed date of closure is the year my child would be doing his gcses the most important year can the school be saved by making it part of a trust or sell some of its land as closing this school will also have a massive effect on middle schools |
Close the Sixth Form and bring some of the PRU and other units which are scattered and in poor accommodation into this hub. Make this a SEND exemplar. |
Change to a two tier system and accept pupils from Year 7 |
There is a lack of specialist provision in North Tyneside. Our son, who is autistic and has an EHCP could not find a suitable school placement. This was partly because he is academically very able but has severe needs in terms of sensory sensitivities and anxiety. Could this become a specialist school or an alternative provision? The MAEPS sites could be better, in terms of lack of PE or outside space. Could this site be used for more vulnerable groups? |
Academy take over or merge with a school who has no space yet children want a place |
I think the best option if you can re explore it is to either close the sixth form or make it a hib for colleges or sixth forms . I would like to know if you live in the immediate locality of monkseaton high where most children are likely to go as the other high school I Whitley bay is already well over prescribed. I also recommend that the catchment for the school be broadened or the catchment for Whitley high made smaller or make their intake slightly smaller so more children are forced to go to monkseaton as let’s face it the intake is small cos everyone would rather go to Whitley high. Why can some schools with a surplus not donate their money to monkseaton high to cover the gap so that the closure won’t affect their school or they won’t be faced into joining or whatever to keep monkseaton open. I’d also like to know how a 2 tier system would work when all the other schools are 3 tier |
Turn MHS into a secondary school/conjoin with another school e.g. monkseaton middle. |
3 to a 2 tier system |
You have not considered the impact that the additional housing being constructed will require the infrastructure including the need of this school in the future. It may not be full now but in 2 years, with immigration and large housing projects, it will be. |
I am not in a position to argue with the financial position. However, for my daughter to not be able to finish the school she has started foe her education is truly horrifying. This will undoubtedly have an impact on her as she has been in three tier education. Further, you know propose an education system that cannot be completed for many pupils as Whitley Bay High will not take the additional 150 students. This will inevitably mean the erosion of the three tier system. How can it be argued that it is acceptable to have children in year 8 who will have to join already established year groups in two tier systems? This is a hugely detrimental impact on my children's education and wellbeing. If you close monkseaton then all must be changed to two tier so that children all have equal opportunities to the SAME standardised education. Further, year 9 and 10 are now full! |
I think it should be a college or perhaps part of a university training of nurses.. if the land is sold for housing maybe bungalows or nursing home would be appropriate as the population is aging. |
Use it as sixth form |
Allow the building to become the sixth form venue of north tyneside. |
Academisation |
Enforce catchment areas, too many children are going to Whitley Bay High when there closest high school to their address is Monkseaton High. I’ve known kids pass monkseaton high in the morning on their way to Whitley bay high! |
Adopt a more commercial approach. Welcome in the business sector to help generate the additional revenue. Consider rental of space such as office, storage, rent sporting facilities. Use the gym and lease new equipment and make it a a commercial venue. |
Convert the school to a Two-Tier System to the benefit of the school's issue with lack of pupils. |
Central organisation of school places. And the abolishment of the academy system to take schooling back into the control of the LEA. |
Change the catchment area to cover the new estates around NE270BD (Backworth/Shiremoor/Northumberland Park) |
It should at least stay open for 3 years to allow year 9 to complete their eduction there |
Becoming a secondary school, admitting younger pupils and /or becoming an adult education hub for the borough, delivering courses either in the evenings or through the day if access can be managed without risk to students. Consider offering more vocational qualifications or employer-led training sessions e.g. for teaching linked to apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships (again assuming access can be managed safely). Allowing local groups and classes to use facilities for a price. DBS vetted parent volunteers to commit to spending time to support additional activities or safely manage non-school groups using the site. |
Turning it into an academy or closing the sixth form. |
Make Whitley Bay a secondary school and use the Monkseaton site as a sixth form centre for Monkseaton and Whitley Bay making it a bigger centre. Sell off some of the land |
I would consider options of a two tier system with monkseaton middle or removing the sixth form preferable to closure. |
Take support from Whitley Bay High School. |
None of the suggested proposals really. Making it into a two tier/ secondary would cause problems for middle schools that feed into Monkseaton. |
Combine Monkseaton middle and Monkseaton high school on the site |
Acadimisation |
Combine Whitley bay and monkseaton high together so the two middle schools have an option to go two, the other schools in the area are two tier and full, will be nowhere for these children to go |
Keeping it open due to all of the new housing estates in the area and the shortage of schools as it is |
Change part of the catchment area and align to a two-tier school, inline with John Spence and Monkseaton High, to meet the increase in demand the new housing estate will yes doubt create. |
I would like to see a smaller secondary school |
Make it a 2 tier system or with the new homes they will be loads of children |
I’m unclear how you can publish the news this will happen without releasing revised catchments for future years and explaining where additional capacity will be created in other schools to absorb pupils. |
If the school was to close, then the building should be developed into a secondary SEND provision, with higher education options. There is severe lack of education spaces for children in our local area with SEND. The land should not be sold to developers to build more houses and the priority should be focused on the most vulnerable in our local community. |
To make Monkseaton High into a 2 tier system. Extend the catchment area to include NE27 and Backworth Park Primary School. This will take the pressure off George Stephenson High School with an increasing population due to the influx of new houses. Monkseaton High would be the preferred high school for parents in this area. |
Redraw catchment areas to ensure provision of schools for residents in local vicinity. New housing will being increased student numbers. |
If the school must close why any they Let the current year 9 complete their GCSE's at Monkseaton High School. If they get moved to other schools , they'll be moved to a school that's currently under subscribed, and the school that they're potentially going to be moved to would not have been the child's 1,2 or 3rd choice of school! |
Merge Whitley High School and Monkseaton High School and have the lessons/staff/children across two sites. |
Change the school catchment areas. North Tyneside is admitting pupils in to Whitley bay high school that live opposite monksearon high school. Balance the catchment areas |
The government must be petitioned to intervene . |
Keep the school open until the 3000 new houses opposite Rake Lane are built, which will boost the pupil numbers to a viable level. |
Keep the school open |
Bringing in a two tier system |
I know the council has some tough decisions to make, but there are definitely better options than closing Monkseaton High School. One idea would be to merge Monkseaton High with Monkseaton Middle School. This would allow the two schools to share resources, reduce costs, and make the most of the space without losing a key part of the community. It would also create a smoother transition for students moving from middle to high school.
While a full merger with Star of the Sea RC Primary School might not be feasible due to its religious status, there’s still plenty of room for collaboration. Star of the Sea could benefit from Monkseaton’s specialist facilities, like the science labs, tech rooms, and sports fields. This would enhance their curriculum while generating extra income for Monkseaton—so both schools could benefit without losing their unique identities. |
On top of that, Monkseaton could become more financially sustainable by embracing eco-friendly upgrades. Installing solar panels and possibly a small wind turbine would generate renewable energy, cutting down on utility costs. And when the school isn’t using much power—like during evenings and weekends—any surplus energy could be sold back to the grid, creating a new income stream. This would reduce costs and show the community that Monkseaton is taking real steps toward sustainability. |
The school could also become more of a community hub. The gym, sports fields, and classrooms could be rented out to local clubs, organizations, or for private events. With a new housing estate being developed nearby, the demand for community spaces is only going to increase. Hosting councillor sessions, markets, and local events would make Monkseaton an even more integral part of the community while also bringing in extra revenue. |
A SEND provision hub. The infrastructure is all there. We sorely need more SEND provision in the area. |
Combine Marden High school |
Merger with Monkseaton Middle School on the same sight, or operate as a secondary school to fulfill the needs of the new houses opposite LIDL on rake lane. |
Move to secondary school, years 7 to 11 |
Norham high school has fewer pupils and also had a large deficit. Its a dated building. Close norham and change the boundaries. There are 3000 homes being built over the next few years next to monkseaton high. Where are all of the children going to go for high school. Whitley high is over subscribed, and kings priory, marden high and john Spence are full |
Transform the building into a 3-19 SEND provision across the borough. There is a shortage of places for SEND children both at primary and secondary within North Tyneside. This is the perfect solution for the repurposing of the space and the estate. |
To combine with WHBH school and become 1 school over 2 sites to create space and extended facilities to all pupils years 9,10,11,12 and 13. |
Make it a secondary school as opposed to a high school. |
Secondary school |
Take over by Whitley Bay High school and become a new campus. Possibly for year 11 or year 9 only. Houses are not as desirable without the choice of two good schools and Whitley bay being over subscribed so not a guaranteed option |
Linking in with local middle schools who are the feeder schools and creating a joint government body. Closing the sixth form. Or linking in with Whitley high school who may have been reluctant in the past however now will be faced with complications. Could Whitley high expand and have another site at Monkseaton? Rebranding the school which I know doesn't currently have the best reputation. Would a new leadership team help? |
alternative two tier system |
Mixing with another school that will benefit from the use of the building aswell. This would be a huge waste to close it |
To keep it open but as a secondary school |
Keep the school but focus on the sixth form element / academic and vocational qualifications leading to the next stage for the young people - link with apprenticeship providers, local employers and universities to give our young people a better pathway and clearer future. Most of my son’s friends travel to Newcastle college and are not happy with the quality of the education they are receiving. A local college with a focus on local workforce fit for the future would give our kids a better chance of success and our employers a future workforce to draw from. |
Phased closure, allowing current 9s to get through their GCSEs. |
The school needs to be made more attractive to parents. Make it and WBHS the same school on 2 sites. |
Whitley Bay High School to take over and run under one head and one governing body |
Merge with middle school. You could keep the two separate on the same site therefore keeping the 3 tier system |
None |
I suggest they try to get more funding for rhe school it self instead of spending it on useless stuff. We need this school as it is close to where we live and the kids love it there. Add in SEND department's |
closer links with Whitley bay high - merged senior management. fix the school building issues |
Over 3000 houses will be built next to the school in a few years time, where I’ll these children attend school? Monkseaton high is one of the only 3 tier schools in North Tyneside- Whitley bay is at maximum capacity, so where will these other students go? |
Turn it into an academy or merge it with another school. |
Extend Whitley Bay High (give them the funding that MH would’ve received) so that numbers can be accommodated fully |
Changing catchment area borders, so north of Beach road to New York and Rake lane should be part of Monkseatons catchment area, encompassing Murton. Also to note the new estate currently being built behind Rake lane / Murton gap and the influx of new families will need schooling availability locally, for children living in New York/Murton - John Spencer is a fair distance to walk to. |
Move to a 2 tier system. The school is brand new really. To nice to demolish and turn into houses |
Do NOT destroy the school, you will just demolish it and build houses on it! You will make many children and teachers fail in life. Instead of spending money on North Shields, trying to improve something already too far gone, spend it investing in the future of north Tyneside |
Open up to year 7 or work with monkseaton middle school |
Could and option be setting up an inclusive Education village Trust that encompasses a secondary mainstream, secondary SEMH ARP and or SEMH/ASC specialist school. This has already been successful in Darlington https://www.educationvillage.org.uk/. |
A large housing estate is being built behind MHS. The children living there will need educating. Would it not be possible for the MHS site to be used as a 3 to 18 education facility? |
Academy takeover. |
My biggest concern is the continued standard of current teaching. My son has just started year 10 (first year of GCSE's), and I now fear that staff will 'jump ship'...... I know only too well that supply and temp staff are no substitute for good teachers. He is currently expected to achieve grades 7-9, this could drop to 5-7 with inadequate teaching. |
Bringing Monkseaton High under the governance of Whitley High and utilising the facilities. |
Move to a 2 tier system |
Monkseaton High and Whitley High should be combined. Whitley High could be used as the secondary school to age 16. Monkseaton High could be used as the 6th form college. This should be under one governing body. |
The school has a terrible reputation which accounts for low student numbers. Rather than closing it needs a revamp as there is so much building going on in the area. My grand[child] attended this school and had a terrible experience there, bullying and a total lack of communication with staff and teachers. If it was raised to a new level ( take a leaf out of Whitley Highs book) and was at full capacity it would mean we have 2 High schools locally to choose from, I know from appeal to change my grandsons school that capacity is not there and wonder where pupils will go! Fix what’s not working first! |
Retain the school as it is likely to see an increase in pupil numbers once the murton gap housing development is complete. |
More adult education courses throughout the weekend and evening should be considered. |
Merge the school with Whitley Bay High. As Whitley Bay is oversubscribed, they could use the extra building to spread the year groups and save the number of appeals when parents don't get the school they want. Quality of teaching may improve along with the extra options that would be available for GCSE choices as there would be more teachers. Monkseaton's choices are very few for GCSE. |
Investigate why such a low proportion of parents within catchment choose to send their children to the school and address the issues identified. |
Join together with Whitley Bay High and run as 2 site campus |
Feeder schools instead of catchment areas ie if a child attends a specific middle school then that child will be expected to attend monkseaton. For example, all pupils at Wellfield Middle naturally progress to Monkseaton High. You cannot have a middle school system and only 1 high school choice that will not fit all middle school children in. |
Reduce Whitley Bay High School capacity to ensure an even distribution between the two schools. |
Remain open until an alternative school can be built, or offer a solution to the debt that remains. |
Close the sixth form as it's easier for the kids to go straight to college after there GCSEs |
fundraising events, become taken over by an academy, extra money to support pupil premiums and donations from community investment |
I would suggest that we open up a larger facility for Additional needs students to gain more money from it and also Open the school up to Younger years such as Year 7 and Year 8 |
To bring Monkseaton High School and Whitley Bay High School together under one governing body. |
Turning into a secondary from 7-13 |
In my opinion most of this falls at the feet of admissions. |
I've lived in the Holystone and Shiremoor areas throughout my children's school years, both of whom initially attended George Stephenson and Long Benton. However, I ended up transferring them to different schools after their first year. |
I believe Monkseaton should transition to a two-tier system. The local middle school is outdated and should merge with the high school. Additionally, the current school boundaries don't make much sense. There are no high schools in the Shiremoor, Holystone, or Northumberland Park areas, meaning students are sent to George Stephenson, which is quite far using public transport. |
cap numbers going to alternative high schools and rethink boundaries, thus forcing numbers higher for monkseaton (marden/john spence etc). |
I have no alternative proposal. I just wanted to express how much I disagree with the closure and how in depth have the mentioned proposals been looked into. |
Closure of the current school & use the site to relocate Woodlawn school which is currently split over two sites. The Monkseaton High site would have the benefit of a larger teaching area for all students with additional needs and equipment such as wheelchairs, changing tables etc as well as substantial land for outdoor play and potential for a new swimming pool to be built. There would be adequate drop off and pick up spaces for accessible vehicles, alleviating traffic congestion and parking issues around Woodlawn's current lower school site. It would free up the current Woodlawn sites to open a sixth form at Marden High and potentially extend Langley First School to accommodate a larger number of applications from new housing being built in very close proximity. |
A merger with Middle School to become a 7-13 provision |
Merging to a 2 tier system with the middle schools |
What about selling the school playing fields for expansion of the housing estate which is currently being built adjacent to the school? There could be some agreement between the school and council such that the pupils could use the facilities at nearby Foxhunters site for sports and recreation while the new housing estate is in construction. This would reduce the deficit in the short term. I understand the housing developer estimates 3000 homes for the adjacent site, before consideration of any further expansion....surely these new homes would increase pupil numbers significantly in the longer term. Liaison with government may be required such that no decision to close is taken until the housing development is completed and the effect on pupil numbers is accurate and evident, rather than just estimated. |
Academy status. |
Merge the school with a middle school (Monkseaton Middle). |
Management under Whitley bay high |
I would advise that you wait until after the completion of the three thousand houses currently being built directly next to the school. I suspect some of the children living in those houses would like to attend a school. |
I think it should be a year 7-13 school with an extended catchment area to offer children in shiremoor, holystone and back worth an alternative to George Stephenson |
I would say that moving year 7 and 8 into Monkseaton high school is a good idea. This is because we are one of the only areas in the country that has middle schools as an option. Due to this, the funding for students is spread out, leaving smaller schools and less pupils, meaning less funding. If year 7 and 8 joined onto Monkseaton High school, the school would receive more funding for students and this would help many pupils to get to school easier as Monkseaton High school is the easiest High school to get to in the area. I myself am in year X at Monkseaton high school and therefore I know that the school has the capacity for another two year groups with a bit of tweaking to the layout. I would like to join the sixth form of this school and with the proposal of its closure, this interrupts this and now I have to find another sixth form with the courses I require. I know I am not the only one facing this issue so please hear out my suggestion as we can hold year 7 and 8 in the building and this proposal causes major difficulties for my next step of education. Thank you kindly. |
turn it into a full secondary |
None, keep it open |
Change the catchment areas to allow pupils who actually live in Whitley Bay attend Whitley High, and those from monkseaton and surrounding areas attend Monkseaton High. Whitley High is oversubscribed and many most even, pupils come from Monkseaton. Even the numbers this way and give some fairness to those many kids on the coast who are drawn into a tiny slither of catchment area for Monkseaton High. The catchment for Monkseaton is not big enough, its is a narrow stretch to encompass us 'leftovers'. In contrast, the catchment for Whitley includes a too large area but doesnt cover those that live in the Bay! |
Keep it open |
I would suggest that the school will see an uptick in pupil numbers upon the completion of the vast amount of new homes being built in the immediate vicinity |
Turn the school into a full school which goes from nursery to year 11. Similar to King's, this would then create more primary school places in the area especially for the new estate that a being build right next to the school. The school building itself looks big enough to accommodate that. |
Declare bankruptcy and liquidate assets to clear the debt. The new housing should bring in new students. |
demolish and build additional sports facilities |
Monkeaton high could become a sixth form college for Whitley bay, Marden high and John Spence. If students from those 3 schools attended this sixth form it would make it viable. Alongside this use of the sports facilities for a sport academy or to be rented out by local football/sports teams to bring in additional funding. |
There is a new housing estate just next to the school so I think this should be taken into consideration when forecasting numbers. I also think that the children who are in year nine should be allowed to stay until year 11 and then complete their final year offsite the same way they would if there was flooding or a problem in their current building. I really think the year nine students are going to be significantly impacted. If you go to the in year transfer help pages on the council website it outlines how severely changing schools affects the children. Now that they are in the school they shouldn’t be disrupted again so soon - starting high school is difficult enough without the added second move to a new place. A lot of these kids won’t recover from that. I work in addiction and many of the adults affected say their problems started because they moved schools and felt like they didn’t fit in anywhere. The impact on the children’s mental health can not be underestimated. |
Ensuring the continuity of those children in their exam year is paramount |
Go to 2 Tier system |
There is a lack of provision of sixth form places, and special educational needs places, in the borough. Could this not be incorporated into this somehow? |
sell some of the land |
Keep the school open fir the children who are going to live in the 5000 new home that are going to be built next door to the school |
Amalgamate with WBHS, using Monkseaton building as sixth form campus. |
I would suggest that the current year 9s should be allowed to continue to attend the school until the completion of GCSES. Leaving it to the beginning of year 10 to transfer schools will disturb their learning, with added pressure starting a new school, not knowing the staff and pupils. The next year of uncertainty will affect their education and well being. Not every child is suited to going to larger schools. After the closure will there enough spaces at schools close to children's address. Currently there appears to be no places available schools close by, how will the council accommodate the need for school places in a few years time? I feel the school should continue to operate it is a nurturing and caring school who put the children first. If it must close let the current pupils end their education there |
Join with Whitley bay high school |
As the building is new consider merger with other high school / middle school / first or primary school which is in worse state and required renovation. |
Joining with Whitley Bay High School to become a single school across split sites. WBHS is continually oversubscribed and already short of space depsite their new building so this would help both parties. It would also enalbe WBHS to grow their sixth form thus bringing in additional funding. |
Use the building to provide an Additionally Resourced Provision for pupils with MLD,ASD and SEMH. There is a gap in provision for these pupils respect those whose needs cannot be met by mainstream or completely SEND schools. This could run alongside the current school increasing pupils numbers and funding. |
Further space is made at Whitley bay high to accommodate the children that should go to monskeaton. I don’t expect to pay the high house prices that I do and not be able to send my child to a good local school . I do not want them to get sent anywhere with space in the region! |
Maybe just until the current year 9s are finished with the school completely and dont let children join year 9 next year. |
I would suggest looking at a 2 tier system for the coastal schools. Use Valley Gardens As a lower school, years 7 and 8, to WBHS. Close middle schools and turn 1st schools into primary schools. Change Marden Bridge Middle school into a smaller secondary school for the coastal area. |
All pupils from year 9, 10, 12 and 13 all finish there gcse and A levels then close down 2027 and don’t also except new pupil applicants |
Joining it to monkseaton middle school |
Stay open until 2027 to allow current year 9 group complete their GCSE's. To disrupt the year 9 children's education journey as they have only just transitioned to Monkseaton High is appalling especially as there is no alternative schools in the area with places |
Secondary school |
Having it as a school from yr9 upwards to support 3 tier system |
A suitable option to keep monkseaton high school running is too merge with another school / academy in which is also able to fund and take over with monkseaton high school |
Do you not think that this is somewhat short-sighted given that 3,000 homes are in the process of being constructed next door to the school? |
Stop whitley bay high school monopolising. |
I think they should keep the school open because from what I have heard the school is great and shutting downs is not good for anybody. |
The formation within Monkseaton and Whitley Bay - the three tier schools - of a new local Multi Academy Trust to both consolidate and serve the schools of the area. This MAT would need to redistribute pupil capacity and staffing resources across the North East Planning Area, closing several smaller (first and middle) schools. The goal would be to bring to an end the multiple budget deficits and declining rolls in other schools, while maintaining the best quality school buildings. |
Close all the middle schools and take more children in instead of have a 2 and 3 tier system all over, and if the council are in that much debt why build a new school in Murton and have you seen the money put into whitley bay all in all closing it is ridiculous the other high schools are over subscribed as it is and we have more housing going up, I have a child who would be due to start the High school in 2026 what a joke the council should be ashamed and if you didn't allow the old head to refuse year 7-8 starting that would of boosted your pupil premium |
I haven’t read them it’s pointless |
I think that the only solution is that the government prioritise education. I know that the council have tried alternative routes such as being taken over by an academy, however I feel that the main problem isn't being addressed. |
I would suggest a proper public consultation, or at least an interested parties consultation, rather than a bombshell like this announcement has been then details of internal decisions that have been made without any real thought of the human impact. |
Readifine the boundaries of the catchment areas. |
Reevaluate the pupil numbers arising from major development of the Rake Lane to Shiremoor corridor. Retain the existing role for the school and repurpose part of it as an adult education hub. |
Governed by Whitley Bay High School |
Join oversubscribed Whitley High with Monkseaton and call school whitley high east and west. The debt will need to be written off for the benefit of the students. Coastal schools are full, these children have to go somewhere. Please North Tyneside think of them and the staff at Monkseaton. The school doesn't have a good reputation so it needs to be promoted. Our daughter is in year 10 and we have been happy until now, even though Monkseaton wasn't our first choice. Has the land been sold for housing? Can't the new houses help to fill the school? We have to find a solution. It's not an old building, it has to be put to good use forthe children of North Tyneside. This is not what I had planned for our daughter's secondary education. We are worried staff morale will be so low they will limp towards school closure and our children's education will suffer. There must be a way to start again, join with another school and promote MHS, remove all or some of the debt. Parents and children and school staff deserve more. What is going on? |
Keep the school open , by turning it into a trust |
In take from year 6 |
Reach out with Academy Trusts from all around the country to try and buy the school. |
Move to 2 tier. Remove 6th form and place under governance of Whitley Bay High. Alternatively, amalgamate WBHS and MHS, utilising 2 sites with potential to change WBHS to 2 tier. |
The council paying off the debt and helping the school get more students |
Become a secondary school. |
Consider merging some of the dated secondary schools in to the facilities at Monkseaton high. |
From NTC masterplan for murton gap...page 21 - 6.1 Education - "Schools are a crucial element of the local infrastructure and therefore Murton Gap must plan for education provision needs arising from new homes. A new primary school is required at Murton. Up to 2 hectares of land will be made available to deliver the primary school to the south of Murton village, suitably integrated into the new development and accessible from a secondary highway link. For secondary schools, a financial contribution will be required towards enhancements of existing schools within the local area. |
There are only 2 high schools in the Whitley Bay Area, surely one isn’t enough to cater for all these teens. Also what happens to children that can’t manage an extremely large school like Whitley high, are they forgotten about? |
I can’t offer one but that school is a key part of the community and is a good school other than the accumulated debt. |
It is only fair that all children who attend Monkseaton High currently are given the opportunity to complete their GCSE’s there. 150 children were allowed to start two weeks ago knowing that they would not be able to continue their education at Monkseaton. This alone is a disgrace. There must be a way that the children in Year 9 can complete their eduction - could the school be phased out? Perhaps in temporary buildings with a smaller number of staff when the current year 10s leave? We are talking about 150 children, for the academic year September 2026. I know that being overseen by WBHS, you state is not an option. But surely just for that one academic year? |
Academisation |
Close Monkseaton High as a secondary school. Expand the capacity of Marden High and John Spence from year 9 initially, with a view to considering from year 7 later on. Convert Monkseaton High into a designated 6th Form that includes some vocational qualifications. Currently provision in the area is poor for vocational qualifications with Tyne Coast setting expectations very low and offering a poor standard of education. This means many post 16 students have to travel to Newcastle College or beyond. |
Academy, or merge with another school |
I think that a proposal to combine Monkseaton Middle School (which has falling numbers) and Monkseaton High School together on the same site would be a possibility to explore. |
Sports academy, apprenticeship college |
2 options. 1 - to be subsumed under WBHS and designated as their 6th form campus. 2 - to be redesignated as a specialist sports focused school to be accessed across the region. |
for somebody to take over the school and make it an academy |
First schools are oversubscribed in the area and with all the new houses being built nearby there will soon be an influx of children looking for a high school. Surely looking to the future one less high school in the area would mean local children having to travel further afield which is not ideal. |
Extend range/provision of non academic qualifications. Move SEN provision into the building as well as Mental Health provision/external providers/children's charities could rent space. Connect with Further Education College to act as a satellite location. Look at employers to see if they would rent parts of building to provide apprenticeship training. |
Additional Senco admissions, NO ACADEMIES. |
Could adding a SEND provision be an option as many children don’t have a provision that meets needs or at all |
Expand current schools or rebuild a school that is suitable for purpose. |
I see no reason why the school cannot achieve academy or technical college status. The building is a landmark in North Tyneside and no doubt businesses such as Proctor and Gamble EE and Tesco Bank would invest in our Children's futures. I see only one reason why the council would allow this fantastic school to close and that it Purely due to the land to create more housing estates but we will have fewer schools for the increased population. MONKSEATON HIGH is far better for Send children due to the fewer student numbers. Possibly have a section purely for SEND children who are unable to attend mainstream schools to obtain further funding |
A combination of different interventions. One could be to sell some of the school land to create funds, to work with/merge with other schools in the area sharing sites and facilities to benefit everyone. If there are areas of the school with unused spaces they could be used by local initiatives, services for older people/people with disabilities giving opportunities for students to work with these groups as part of their efucation. |
Work with the school the better the reputation and support the teachers. Therefore restoring faith in parents to place children in the school and let it thrive! |
Get rid of the six form in whitley bay high school to make space for the students(current y9s) and make Monkseaton high school a building for all six form. With the amount of people who want to go to whitley high anyways, they wouldn’t have to worry about money as they will be earning money for each child that will then go if this idea takes place. I am a new student at Monkseaton high and I am devastated that you have came up with the thought to close it 3 weeks into the new Y9s joining instead of before hand!!! |
Consideration of increasing the catchment area and ensuring even proportionate representation of young people between Monkseaton High and Whitley Bay High. |
The students should be placed in good schools close by their houses and even though it should close it will be devastating to closw |
Converting the school into a secondary school starting from Year 7. This would significantly improve student places in terms of capacity. |
Keep it open and include future children from the new Robinson fields housing all the way to New York/ shiremore |
Update and extend the High School catchment area to increase the number of potential pupils. There are new housing developments within the North Tyneside area that once fully established will need a nearby High School to accept pupils completing Year 8 at local Middle Schools. It would likely be a preference of parents to choose a high school that is geographically close to home and Middle School location than send children to a High School that is in the current catchment but further away. |
Academisation if possible |
I do not believe that the council has taken any of the steps they've outlined because there has been absolutely no prior notification of these steps or any engagement with parents prior to a notification of closure. |
Repurposing the building into a sixth form college following the closure of Queen Alexandra 6th Form College. |
The wider region (including Newcastle and Northumberland) is desperately in need of SEND provision. One suggestion could be to relocate a middle school into the Monkseaton High building (Valley Gardens or Monkseaton Middle) and use the middle school building as a specialist provision for full and part time placements, to alleviate pressures on schools trying to manage ever increasing numbers of SEND learners without adequate funding or support. |
Become a dedicated 6th form |
Turning it into an academy like multiple other schools have done in the area? We don't have enough school places in the area as it is! |
Review the catchment areas for schools in NT area. Move some pupils from oversubscribed schools such as WBHS and Kings Priory to Monkseaton. Make Monkseaton a sixth form school for other schools such as WBHS. |
To remain as a high school but increase sixth form for students from Marden High and John Spence etc or to become a secondary school, appreciate it says these options have been dismissed but states it could be lack of agreement or financially unviable, but doesn't state which reason and I think that an agreement has to be sought over a closure |
1. Enhance provision for enrolling SEND pupils fron North tyneside and, possibly, Northumberland. |
Whitley bay high recently has undergone a new build. the old building remains- this can be used to expand the school to take in all pupils in the monkseaton catchment area for future intakes as this is now the main three tier high school in the near vicinity |
Adopt the 2 tier system to align with most other schools in the area |
Bringing the school together with another local school under one governing body |
The current year 9 is full, therefore closing the school and transferring 150 pupils to other schools at the time they choose their GCSE options is the wrong answer. |
Moving the three-tier system to a two-tier system of education |
Stop other schools being oversubscribed |
Closing this school is completely the wrong thing to do. Where on earth are the children currently attending this school going to go? What a massive impact on their mental health! There are so many SEN children crying out for a school surely the size of the building it could be turned into some sort of SEN hub along side the current high school/6th from. It only takes one good piece of positive media to turn a school around. No doubt the council have the land already lined up for housing, shame on them that they are even considering closing Monkseaton high School. |
I think the smartest thing to do would be make it a dual site with the increasing number of need for SEN school places and children aren't getting this. Why not team up with organisations such as the North East Autism Society who run school south of the Tyne and create space for these children who so desperately need it. |
Expand the catchment area and consider the new estate being built right beside the school. Numerous families will be living there and looking for education for their children. |
Repurpose the building as a SEND facility |
Changing system from entrance at 14 to 11 years |
Stop oversubscription of large classrooms from other surrounding schools. |
Given equality of opportunity is of utmost importance, the solution needs to be one that benefits all children. At the moment in North Tyneside the three tier system has created a situation where the majority of children enter the third part of their education in an “outstanding“ high performing and well resourced local school (Whitley Bay High). For those children, the three tier system works well. Because Whitley Bay high school is regularly oversubscribed the minority of children in the 3 tier system end up going to Monkseaton high school. I am Monkseaton High school alumni and have only positive things to say about the school and its teachers. However, over the years it has gained an entirely unfair reputation as being the “worse of the two schools“. I know from experience that the stigma of going to a school with a poor local reputation can have lifelong impacts. Combine this with the situation that the current year nine students are in – struggling to study against the most awful backdrop of uncertainty, stress and anxiety – could potentially have a catastrophic impact on their education and futures. North Tyneside Council have a moral obligation to address this. In terms of solutions, I would be in favour of either moving to a two tier system in North Tyneside or making Whitney Bay high school smaller and tightening the catchment boundaries so that Monkseaton High school also is at full capacity. This solution would hopefully dispel with the harmful myth that Monkseaton high school is substandard. |
This south eastern corner of North Tyneside is crying out for local sixth form provision to reduce educational inequality in areas of high social deprivation. I would question the decision not to convert this into a sixth form venue for the Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and North Shields area. |
Surely the new estates will produce a new peak in the child demograph? Could the school not be mothballed? Schools such as WBHS are already near full capacity and would certainly not be able to take up this surge in numbers? |
Long term, change whole system to two tier. It makes no sense having most of the authority as 2 tier, then whitley bay/Monkseaton 3 tier |
I would remove the 3 tier system from Whitley bay to a 2 tier system. There will only be 1 high school in the 3 tier system which reduces choice and makes that area more elite than the rest of the borough. The building could be then utilised as a super primary school with great facilities that could be used by several local primary schools. This would result is less costly multiple primary and middle schools. It’s a unfair situation |
To co-locate with Monkseaton Middle School. |
Make it into a specialist provision for the local area, to improve facilities and provision for children with additional needs so they can be dual registered or have their needs well catered for. Make it a flagship school that the area can be really proud of, rather than a vanity project that falls into its own black hole of reputation. |
Changing the catchment. People in Earsdon View (and maybe the new houses off Rake Lane) would rather go to Monks Eaton High than George Stephenson |
Turn the school into an academy to provide private funding. |
Academy or move to 2 tier system |
Joining with Whitley high or changing catchment areas and enforcing children access their local school |
I would suggest moving to a two tier system which is more aligned with other schools in the area |
This is clearly an SLT. Issue. Nothing to do with low birth rates |
A two tier system for Monkseaton would be the best option. It would be best for all of the coast. If the school cannot be saved as it is, could it be a much needed SEN space for the hundreds of children we have entering school now with extreme autism that cannot be accommodated in mainstream. |
Merging with other undersubscribed schools, making the building a sixth form for schools in the North Shields area who lack local facilities for a level study. |
Co-locate with middle school |
Advise more people to join, sell land, downsize , join with monkseaton middle, academy join |
Monkseaton High School to retain Years 9,10,11 and become the sixth form venue for the Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and North Shields area. |
There is a shortage in the region of 2 tier secondary school places around or at least very little choice. This will further increase the stress and demand certainly for the North Shields area schools. The school should be reopened as a secondary school for 11-18 year olds. |
A two tier system |
The house building taking place nearby would suggest that Monkseaton high is in an ideal position to take pupils to increase number, plus many parents are already concerned about large classroom sizes in high schools elsewhere. Alongside the recent closure of the 6th form provision in North Shields Monkseaton high could provide additional 6th form places to children at the coast without the need for extensive travel to Tyne Met |
Lobby the government for financial support in reducing the deficit to allow a MAT to come in and take over day to day running of the school. |
Special needs schools are struggling with space for the numbers. Woodlawn is on split sites due to this. Allow the school to be used for children with special needs and also for children with Specisl needs who are in mainstream but are struggling so they could have respite to a special needs school rather than spending the time at home or excluded when they are overwhelmed at mainstream. |
Remove the leadership team for poor management |
If the deficit could be absorbed by the council if a multi academy trust were to come forward, would it also be prepared to extend this if the building were taken on and run as a free school, with a solid business plan and an alternative offer ie, a more vocational curriculum. |
Turn it into Sixth Form College for area |
University Technology College |
Close a less modern school |
As a six form student in the school, I don't believe that there is room for an extra 400-500 students. Our classrooms are full, as are the teaching schedules. I suggest working alongside Appletree Gardens and Monkseaton Middle to create a combined, two tier primary and secondary with Appletree and Monkseaton feeding straight to Monkseaton High. Similarly, with our school being rated outstanding by ofsted, the decision to close this school would leave students with moving to lesser-quality schools, as other local schools do not have an outstanding rating. Other buildings such as Churchill are decrepit and yet there's no public discussion about closing a building which is a danger to the students. Arguably, if Churchill closes, the students could be deferred here as we held year 7s here in the summer, and it is possible for Churchill and Monkseaton to merge finance and solve the issues for both schools. |
Change to a two tier system so that the school can benefit children from year 7 onwards. This solution would provide extra choice for parents choosing a secondary school. |
Wait until all the new houses have been built, see how the pupil numbers change and then make an informed decision. If the school is closed and all the students there now plus future students will have to go further afield to get to school costing the council money using buses to get them there and may end up needing to build a new school. |
Change to secondary school/ remove sixth form |
Make it from year 7 to 13. |
to increase the amount of pupils, instead of sending troubled pupils to moorbridge or moorbridge bungalow etc, you could send them to monkseaton high or you could make this school like moorbridge as it has the space for many pupils whilst moorbridge is getting more full each term. |
Amalgamate with WBHS - 1 school, 2 sites |
I think since the actual issue is the mismanagement of the original building project and not the viability of a school, funding for a new building on the site for a middle and high comjined . This would safeguard the three tier system that the parents of Whitley Bay want to protect. The schools are all over subscribed in WB so it’s just not correct to say there isn’t a demand for places and the building of new houses locally which is taking place on a massive scale will put further pressure on this. Both WBHS and Valley Gardens are massively oversubscribed so there is a demand for places in the area |
To co-host the Monkseaton High site with Monkseaton Middle School. The middle school is older and the building/site could be sold off to generate further income to apply to the deficit. |
To reconsider moving to a two-tier system. Although said to be explored previously would it not be better to look at this again, as now the alternative is for the school to completely close. |
Becoming an Academy |
let the year 9s stay till year 11 |
Academisation or turn into a secondary school |
I think changing it into a secondary school will help as kids will start from age 11, which will increase the capacity. With all the new houses being built in murton gap, this should also bring new scholars into the school. |
I believe it is a short sighted decision 3000 new homes being built right next to it more pupils to come in the next few years where do you propose to educate them |
Joining a MAT |
Change catchment area |
Moving to 2 tier and or Catering for more SEND |
Academy |
Change to 2 tier school |
Get more funding from Goverment. Put a levy on all the house building companies to pay to ensure the school stays open as pupil numbers will dramatically increase as housing nearby expands and schools will be needed which they should have to account for. Increase council tax on new build houses to make them pay for the school they will |
To co-locate with Monkseaton Middle School |
Closure of the sixth form. |
Stop cutting resources the school needs to make it an attractive place for education to incoming students. |
Either maintain the school to provide places for young people who may move to the area in the new build accommodation. |
I don’t propose an alternative. It should remain open, Children should go to the school in their catchment area, less movement should be allowed and school should all be of a good standard so parent do not feel they have to send their children to school out of catchment. |
Whitley Bay with all its new investment takes over the running of Monkseaton and they are ran from the Whitley site using the old building and the new building. Both schools ran under the umbrella of whitely bay |
Balance numbers between high schools through adjusting PAN. |
Joining of Monkseaton Middle |
I have read from the FAQ's very little on why some of the options have been ruled out. |
Enough information has not been given on why the options explored would not work. The most obvious route of making the school a secondary, with intakes in year 7 and 9 would undoubtedly increase pupil numbers. |
I don’t have the financial and logistical information to answer that question but want to highlight the awful way that this has been communicated. You have not shown how our children would be redistributed leaving people in limbo. Will I now be forced to send my child to a school that will deteriorate over then next two years? |
Switch to a 2 tier system. This keeps the school open, means children can access the school they’re going to sit their GCSEs in year 7 and familiarise them with the school/subject/staff. |
I would suggest linking with monkseaton middle school and having upper and lower school. I would widen the catchment, rent out space for alternative provision or sports clubs. Join an academy such as North East Learning Trust |
Yous are building houses like there's no tomorrow in that area and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future!! Surely the demand for this school will increase, also it's a relatively new building that cost mega bucks to build so how could you even consider it! Need the land for more houses I guess???!!!!!! |
Fundraising activities, including approaching the Murton Gap developers for funding or a low interest loan. |
Given its location on the boundary between the 2 tier and 3 tier school systems, and given its location and accessibility to existing family housing, could it not accept children from year 7, but also have a further intake at year 9? I am currently applying for year 7 places and our options for non religious secondary schools are not accessible via public transport and are a 40 minute walk away. |
Merger with another school on the existing site, potentially selling some (no more than 33%) of the land for housing development. |
Monkseaton High School to retain Years 9,10,11 and become the sixth form venue for the Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and North Shields area. |
Sell some land and possibly add monkseaton middle to the school |
Either changing the school to a 2 tier system to accommodate the growing residents in the area or possibly joining this with another school, however this option is less favoured as I believe the reputation of the school will remain and it will still be the less favoured of the two when parents apply for schools. |
MHS as a designated centre for specialist tuition. Sport academy, ARC, sixth form college, PRU |
Merging with Monkseaton Middle School as they are also undersubscribed. A majority of pupils who go to Monkseaton Middle live outside the catchment for Whitley Bay High so if Monkseaton High closes this will also have a devastating impact on Monkseaton Middle school as pupils won't have a high school to follow on to after year 8 and will be forced to go back into the 2 tier system. |
I would suggest moving either one or a combination between Langley First school ,South Wellfield First School and Wellfield Middle School onto the Monkseaton High School site to share the building but still retain their status as a first or middle school ie their own headteacher staff etc. Almost as a learning village. |
Look at changing catchment areas to ensure more children are within the catchment for the school. |
Join with Monkseaton Middle School to make a secondary school, taking on pupils from 11. |
Seek an academy sponsor to |
The local community widely perceives Monkseaton High School as inferior to Whitley Bay High School (WBHS), fostering significant concern among parents, including myself. As a parent of a child in the local middle school, I am particularly worried about the possibility of my child being assigned to Monkseaton High instead of WBHS. This anxiety is shared by many parents due to the restrictive catchment area for WBHS, which only includes the more affluent sections of Whitley Bay. Should Monkseaton High close, there could be an opportunity to expand the catchment area for WBHS, potentially including a broader section of the community. The selective catchment has led to a stark increase in property values within these areas, while simultaneously driving down home prices elsewhere in the town. There is a strong consensus among parents that equitable access to educational opportunities must be ensured. |
Making it a 2 tier school |
Introduce a 2 tier system |
Other high school near by |
Keeping it for new residence from Murton Gap, maybe making it an all through primary/middle/high if necessary. How can 3 tier system continue with only one high school left (WBHS) |
Work out projected future PAN numbers from the Robinson Fields housing development. 3000 houses will need a school! Why are students choosing not to go to Monkseaton High? Work on Specialisation/new identity of the school. Growing the 6th form as there is none at Marden High and Whitley High is heavily oversubscribed. Why was the poor structural build integrity resulting issues ie heating /ventilation /continued roofing leaks of the school never properly addressed. This causing continued financial difficulties over many years. |
Firstly if this school had of been 2 tier as other schools in the area, I know it would have been a first option to many residents of Preston Grange & Marden Estate- it was far closer than the options available for my children for high school but not in catchment. I also cannot understand how the 3000 new houses being built next to this school will not produce children who can attend it! |
Make it a 2 Tear school. That would get the numbers of students up which means that they get more money for the school and don’t go into anymore debt |
Work on partnership with other schools in the area |
Change of leadership |
Cut staff costs |
Widening the catchment area for the school to capture more pupils. I spoke to several parents in the past whose children cannot apply to the school because they live slightly further away |
This school needs to be made into a secondary school, then children from shiremoor Primary Backworth primary and holy Stone primary can feed into it. This will improve numbers. With the addition of two extra year groups, they will have the additional student numbers to gain premiums and hopefully increase revenue. |
I would like to propose the school is either partially or fully turned into a special school,AP or ARB run by another trust or school for pupils in the North East. Across the North East councils are paying a fortune to private providers to educate children in Alternative Provisions or private special schools. Specialist trusts provide the same or better education for a fraction of the cost. Mainstream schools are bursting at the seams with children who need specialist provision and SEN school have extremely long waiting lists. The council could make money from out of borough placements and save money from not having to send pupils to out of borough placements. I appreciate this will not be easy to set up but it is a desperate need in the area and makes financial sense. |
Post 16 Education as the Borough has limited options for 6th Forms. Possibly combine with Tyne Met/Coast. |
There is no suitable alternative |
Consider alternative option such as making it a Sixth Form Centre for North Tyneside. |
I just don’t understand why you don’t Start the year group from year 7 as people don’t want to move from middle school to high school people want to go from primary school to high school straight away this would resolve a lot of issues as that’s why people don’t really want to go to this school, So you did from year 7 this would resolve a lot of issues |
Open up to year 7 intakes and SEN provision |
Either becoming a secondary school or closing the 6th form. |
Anything to keep it open. The school is far better than many others in the borough. Joining with Whitley bay would make most sense, if not then abandon the three tier system in the coast and make the full borough two tier like the rest of north Tyneside |
Am not sure what other options there are, i think a two tier system would work as it would be the same across the whole borough. |
Make the catchment area bigger for monkseaton |
I strongly disagree because even though I fully accept that £7 million debt cannot go on. There has not yet been a suitable alternative provided for the children of this school, we have failed the children at this point and created anxiety fo them. The frequently asked questions do not provide an alternative. So at the moment, the council are recommending its better to close a school and draw to a close a debt but not what educationally awaits for the pupils. |
Ideally a merger with Whitley Bay High, which I believe is oversubscribed. |
*Possibly consider whole school as a sixth form for the whole area. |
The need for a 6th form college/further education college is huge. If Monkseaton closes, there will be even more demand on Whitley High as it tries to provide spaces for Whitley High, Marden High, John Spence pupils. Due to the closure of Queen Alexandra College, our children have very few options in the North Tyneside area: going to Newcastle College shouldn’t have to be an option. |
Reorganisation to make it into a 6th form college for Whitley Bay thus making room in other schools for Y5 upwards. Or, combining it with a Middle School, adjustments to facilities paid for by selling off the Middle School site. |
For a number of years the school have been adverse to funding via sports or Christmas fairs inviting parents in with minimal costs but this was a way of parents funding those that could it's worked in otherschools |
Maintain the school as open. Bearing in mind the new houses on the side adjacent to the school will house children to access the school, the council will need a local school to educate them in. |
Ultimately the decision of what schools kids go to is made by the council, so why have you let Whitley Bay be filled to capacity and leave Monkseaton at around 60%, the catchment areas are clearly unfit for purpose at their current position, closure of this school would have massive impact on the children currently there and all the feeder schools that use that school,.the amount of houses being build must bring more kids that need schooling. |
Re-purpose the building (and the name) as a centre for the provision of enrichment and Out of School Hours activities. This would: |
3000 new houses are in the process of being built as part of the Earsdon Gap project. These family sized homes are not affordable for the majority of first time buyers - therefore are likely to appeal to young families providing increased student numbers to the school. It is my understanding there will be a new primary school built as part of this development - however no additional secondary school. |
To extend the catchment area to cover Monkseaton High School. Extend catchment area over the new build houses heading towards Murton, this currently has a catchment area for John Spence High School. There is over 5000 homes being built on this land, not every house will have a child however these are 3,4 & 5 bedroom homes so the likely hood is they will have a family. Extending catchment area this way will help with increasing numbers. Also to extend catchment area down Marine Ave Whitley Bay, covering Marine Park First School. This will also help to increase numbers. To also look to extend catchment area towards Shiremoor, a lot of children from this area are in the 3-tier system. |
Working harder to ensure there continues to be a choice of schools |
Use the building for a sixth form. Fed from WB high (and hopefully managed by them as they already have the teachers/expertise), and marden, John Spence to one North Tyneside 6th Form college (regardless of 2 and 3 tier school system) |
We have a large Number of Neurodiverse pupils emerging. I propose that this school can be utilised with peer support staff initiatives to Champion this school to provide further educational needs prior to school leavers . Providing essential life skills. |
I think the council need to work with all partners to find a solution to keep this local school open to as many year groups as possible, I don't have enough information or experience to say which proposal is best |
I agree with the proposed closure though it should be accompanied by alternative proposals for provison. Specifically, the sixth form provision will place too great a burden on WBHS sixth form. Marden High School should be encouraged to explore sixth form provision so that the 2 school system also has a sixth form that is local authority (ie not Kings or St Thomas More) |
Whitley bay high uses the site for a large whitley bay sixth form. This would free up space in the new whitley high building for the pupils who are at, or would be going to, Monkseaton. |
I think under no circumstance should the school be closed. |
Expand other local High schools across the 2 sites. So all local North Tyneside High Schools have some responsibility to the local children, to ensure their educations needs are met and their well being is protected. |
Could the Monkseaton High school and Monkseaton Middle school be merged into one building |
All whitley bay resident to have access to tier 3 high school in locality |
Sixth form campus for Whitley high |
*There is to be a new primary school in Murton Fields, make it a First School to include it in the MHS catchment area - this is part of a longer term solution but it may be that secondary school-age children will be moving into the 300 being built now, they should be able to go to MHS ie. include all the Murton Fields development into the 3-tier catchment area |
Whitley Bay High School has a lot of land from where the old buildings are/were. Could the school not be expanded to allow all 4 middle schools to be guaranteed a spot here? This could be funded by the many millions that would be generated from developers desperate to build on the land at Monkseaton High. |
Become a secondary school |
moving to a two tier system and it becoming a secondary school, widening the current catchment area. |
create a hybrid 2 / 3 Tier school allowing children to attend from Year 5 next year |
Merge the high schools, use the same management styles, co-school so the people closest to the school are who are allowed to go there, need to have same level of education and care from teachers. |
Before I can make an informed decision, I would need to understand in detail, the reasons why the options already considered have been deemed to be unviable. The broad brush statement of them not being financially viable or no agreement being reached doesn't give parents enough detail to comment. I have no confidence that the options listed in the consultation document have been fully explored. |
Combination with other schools/ academy status. Acceptance of pupils of younger age |
Sell the majority of the grassland the school possesses, selling it to developers |
Academisation |
Keep the school open until current year 9 children have left yes it will cause more debt but less disruption or change catchment area so more children go to monkseaton |
They need to be given space at WBHS for both staff and students. Whether that is through porta-cabin style or through using any part of the old building that is safe enough to house them. |
Ensuring that kids who live in Monkseaton are placed in the school. Currently many people who live in Monkseaton apply as a first choice to Whitley Bay High even though they are out of catchment. |
Change the school into a sixth form for Whitley Bay. Close the sixth form at Whitley Bay High School to create capacity for Whitley Bay High to accommodate all students to transition to Whitley Bay High as they finish year 8 in Middle Schools in the area. |
My major concern is the continued education for my son who is currently in Year 10 and the potential exodus of key teaching staff. Whilst I appreciate that he will continue in the school until he sits his GCSE exams I am not confident that the teaching leading up to this time will give him the support and education he requires. How will the quality of teaching be assessed to ensure the delivery of adequate teaching to ensure the students including my son achieve the best qualifications they can? Their long term future is based on the results they achieve and could have a detrimental effect on their future placings at both 6th Form College and potentially University. |
To make the offer to MATs again with the clear addendum that NTC will absorb the debt OR a work with the surrounding schools to make it a secondary |
Keep it open and work towards a full operating school |
As birth rates are falling, it seems likely the high school will need to close at some point in the future. However, as it is within the boundaries of a 3 tier system, rather than 2 tier it seems very unfair to send a small number of pupils, who are within the catchment area of Whitley Bay High or Monkseaton High to a 2 tier school at the end of their time at middle school. I would suggest keeping the school open until birth rates have fallen sufficiently that the catchment area for WBHS can be re-drawn to include the current Monkseaton High catchment area, therefore protecting the children in the 3 tier catchment from the uncertainty and disruption to their education having to switch between 3 and 2 tier. This would provide a clear end date for Monkseaton High so it is not a forever bottomless money pit. Alternatively, catchment areas should be removed, and school admissions should be done by an "as the crow flies" distance from the school such as the one implemented by Newcastle Council. Cost cuts at Monkseaton High up to this point should be looked at - or hiring out the space more on weekends/holidays to generate revenue. |
Keeping it open and moving 2-tier system, children starting at year 7, not year 9 |
Closure of 6th form , plenty other choices |
Join with WBHS - Monkseaton has a reputation and i think this puts pupils off |
Sixth form college, as limited choices in north tyneside |
Close down monkseaton middle school and make its feeder schools (Appletree / Langley ) primary schools that all feed into monkseaton high |
Change in catchment |
Amalgamation with another school |
close 6th form |
Whitley Bsy expanding onto the Monkseaton site to increase capacity across the area |
The Local Authority should be supporting the school with better marketing to attract parents/children to the school. There should be more options explored to increase revenue to the school such as renting space ie. Sports clubs, dance schools, language classes, theatre/drama clubs, hobbies clubs and offering paid tuition lessons etc |
From what I understand the school need to be more diverse and with it's location can they not use advertising on the fence facing the main road for local businesses to advertise or hire out the premises for after school classes or sports camps? |
In the immediate term it seems unavoidable that the school will have to close. Ignoring the financial deficit, the existence of this consultation is likely to mean that any parents of a Y8 child will not put Monkseaton High on their application for Y9 places. So, even if the consultation concludes that the school should stay open, Sept 2025's Y9 cohort will be near non-existent. Then bring the finances back into the equation and it's a no-brainer. |
Share out the applications equal between all schools |
I’m not sure how the public could possibly suggest a viable alternative to the closure. Why are you even asking us? We have no information, expertise or data. Ludicrous. |
If Monkseaton High School closes all children in the current 3 tier system should be automatically accepted/given a place at Whitley Bay High School |
Dear Sir/Madam, |
Move to a 2 tier |
Re-visit each of the presented options that have been discounted, and provide residents with more meaningful information on the reasons these options have not been taken forward, rather than just stating "they are not financially viable, or because agreement could not be reached." Release a detailed impact assessment relating to the proposed closure. It is not meaningful or realistic to ask residents to present alternative options to closure of a school, but they should be provided with sufficient information to help them understand any decision and be able to respond to any consultation in a meaningful way. |
Why isn't WBHS taking on Monkseaton as an outpost an option. One management team; one set of wage costs over two sites. Once the school is gone, it's gone. North Tyneside really doesn't need yet another housing estate - it may well need extra school capacity a few years down the line. |
Turn it into a forest school and make it a PRU. There is so much need for alternative provision in North Tyneside. It could have different areas within it.....sensory room, music studio, gym |
Either turn into an academy or stricter financial control until more pupils with the rise in local population |
Its difficult to comment as the information is limited but one thought is what consideration was made about closing other schools (such as John Spence) and moving those to Monkseaton? |
Moving the three-tier system to a two-tier system of education |
Amend catchment areas, Whitley high is far too big and unfair. The areas closest to seaton sluice should be made further away in light of their new school being opened in 2025. Monkseaton catchment should be made bigger, and between the two schools, all first and middle school’s within 3 tier should be included in the catchment. |
Bring back the football academy |
Share the excess space at the school with another school, specifically an SEN School as SEN provision in NT is oversubscribed e.g Woodlawn could part of Monkseaton be used as an extension to Woodlawn, which is also an 'older building'. This would also benefit pupils at both schools re Integration for some subject areas. |
Consider turning it into a SEN school. Lots of the SEN schools are oversubscribed and given the two year waiting list for an assessment via CAHMS, I believe there is a ticking time bomb with demand for SEN growing and growing. |
I would first like to see the accounts and understand why there has been a deficit since 2016 before making a proposal. Very difficult to assess something without hard facts. |
Ideally the two high schools should work together. Monkseaton has the capacity to become focused on STEM (UTC model). Potentially a further 'hub' for Post 16 for North Tyneside College. A training hub for education/educators. But to close it will be devastating for the community and not easily undone. |
It is clear that this school (and potentially others nearby) would better serve their communities by reverting to the two tier school system. This would resolve the numbers issue faced by MHS and relieve strain on GSHS. |
Scrap the 3 tier system in North Tyneside and have primary and secondary schools. The current system between the 2 tier and 3 tier depending on your catchment area is silly |
Monkseaton high school to retain year 9, 10, 11 and become the sixth form venue for Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and North Shields area. |
It is a shame that so may schools in the area have issues with aerated concrete and there is a perfect building design for education that will be closed her |
Lose the sixth form. |
A specialist Sixth Form provision, SEN provision or adjust the intake boundaries so that there is a more balanced intake of local students between WBHS and Monkseaton High. |
Merger of Monkseaton with another struggling school like Norham? |
It will ruin school population. |
I would support a new management of the school or a new vision making the site into a whether that be an academy or a sixth form hun? But we cannot only have one school in Whitley Bay when we have a high number of students who will be faced with no where to go at the end of middle school if not admitted into Whitley High. |
No alternative it needs to stay open for future generations. |
No suitable alternative |
I have read the questions and don't fully agree with all of the answers. There are housing estates going up all over North Tyneside and schools will be needed - Monkseaton High School has been in debt a number of years and I would question if the right people have been in the roles managing the deficit - could this not be run as an academy. |
Why close a school when it's only 15 years old but you've got school that's been built with rac and is falling around our children you've also got our children in cabins.. |
Make monkseaton into “educating Newcastle” |
The feelings at the meeting of the parents last week were very strong. I feel that if other schools in the area had not been allowed to take in more pupils than they were recommended to take in, the situation would not be so problematical. Would it be possible to have a Middle School and a high school on the same sight? |
I think it should be given to woodlawn school. Woodlawn school and other special educational needs across north tyneside are over subscribed. I know this as my daughter attends woodlawn school and although Mt son has a ehcp he was refused a place at woodlawn on the basis that they are over subscribed. Therfore making this site available to woodlawn would benefit many other special needs families in north tyneside. |
Setting up an academy. Redrawing catchments. We need a longer term solution. |
Addressing the reasons for parental choice meaning those living locally are choosing other schools. Offering incentives for families choosing the school would boost numbers. Uncertainty now means people will not put the school as first choice, making the closure a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or how about turning it into a specialist school for SEND? This is a major issue at schools like Whitley bay high, where the attitude is ‘put up or go elsewhere’ when it comes to accommodating students needing flexibility or different approaches. With growing neurodiversity recognition this could be a national flagship school that promotes genuinely inclusive teaching for those who mainstream school should be working but just isn’t! |
Common sense would indicate that the school catchment areas need to be reviewed. The new housing development next to the school should surely be in catchment. Whitley Bay should not be offered as an alternative to Monkseaton for children in Monkseaton High catchment area |
Finding a way to use the school to full capacity, maybe having a send unit within the school building. Or any other specialist education that may need the space. |
Alternative provision for SEND Pupils |
none |
1. make the school a hybrid 2/3 tier school with an intake of up to 120 (4 classes) in Y7 and then a further 120 in Y9. This would bring the school near capacity and it would also mean that it could offer places to the areas directly adjacent to the school which are currently 2 tier |
1. Alter catchment boundaries of WBHS in particular, to ensure more of Whitley bay centre and south is in MHS catchment. |
I don’t have an alternative as quite happy for the school to close (it’s not a school we would want to send our child to anyway). We moved to Whitley Bay (South) so we were in the catchment for Rockcliffe first school, Marden Middle & Whitley Bay High School. With the council now changing the catchment area we are no longer in the catchment for WBHS. We would like the council to reconsider the catchment areas so our child can go to the schools we chose for her as originally planned. |
Increase promotion of the school in order to showcase it as being an option for parents. Increasing not closing the sixth form - its an entirely different environment to WBHS and Kings and appeals to a different cohort of pupil. Parents and pupils from other schools - Marden etc and not always aware that attending there for sixth form is an option. |
Make Whitley Bay High School reduce their PAN to allow more intake at Monkseaton. We need more information from the LA such as data showing why the options explored can’t be met and perhaps asking the same of Whitley Bay High to show proof of how they think merging with Monkseaton can’t happen rather than it just being a case of they don’t want the burden of any debt associated with their school. It seems that Monkseaton is being eradicated by Whitley Bay High which isn’t helping our community. |
WBHS changing catchment area to capture all pupils in 3 tier system should be priority ... ie only way to maintain 3 tier system? South Whitley should be included so they are prioritised via people in areas in 2 tier catchment as otherwise nowhere to go! |
It seems the local area is in need of a dedicated sixth form venue. Could Monkseaton High not become a specialised sixth from college? Perhaps move sixth form students from whitley Bay and John Spence into Monkseaton High and encourage local schools to feed into the school. Marden High doesnt have a sixth form and so this would be a great way feed into the High School. It seems such a waste of a great educational facility to just let it go to ruin. |
Utilising the part of building for other educational services, such as expanding SEN provision or opening new collage or a Futures collage. |
You have not considered selling all of the field to allow the housing development next to it to extend onto it. This would surely pay off the debt and leave some for the projected debt. Then the school could become a secondary school if the middles schools did not want to merge. |
Stop allowing WBHS to expand their admissions, |
You have not given enough information around the avenues that you have already (apparently) looked at? |
Sell some of the land around the School. It is vast compared to all others in the area. Section off half of School and turn into sport academy - Whitley bay sporting club don’t have a base and other clubs may join. |
Redraw the boundaries, reduce numbers in Whitley bay high |
I would consider an academy approach but most certainly not messing with the 3 tier system. There are going to be several thousand new houses next to it soon, for god sake just wait a few years. It is needed. |
Make it into a two tier system from years 7-11. There is not enough availability from shiremoor and the catchment is Killingworth. |
Try again to find funding to stop closure and bring in changes to staff |
It should be made a secondary school. The 3 school system it not fit for purpose |
Without knowing how you racked up the large debt, this would be hard to answer. |
Agree it's no longer viable but I live in Whitley bay town centre and if monkseaton is to close surely something needs to be put in place for current year 8 to move to Whitley or Marden high. It's not fair having to move them to any non coast high schools. Catchment areas for Whitley bay needs to cover Whitley high. |
Start from yr 7 gives more school choices and there's only 1 middle school now so by yr 9 most children have settled in other school |
Since there is no where near enough specialist settings available for children who need to learn in a different environment or different way an alternative could be to create a sen unit or arp with some of the building so children can access this especially those with echp who are struggling to find a suitable setting. Many parents with sen children would welcome this idea |
It seems that both Monkseaton Middle and Monkseaton High have had questionable reputations making them second or third choice for many families. Could the 2 schools work together maybe in a 2 tier system to build up the relationships and reputation of both schools. |
There needs to be some additional funding to clear the debt so that another school in the area can merge onto the site to share the costs, Monkseaton middle may wish to be part of this as the will be adversely affected by the drop in students in the 3 tier system, as will marden bridge and welfield middle. |
Possibly returning to two tier system |
Revisiting the ideas outlined. You are forcing the school to close by limiting pupil numbers. |
Merge Whitley Bay High School and Monkseaton High School but operate over the 2 sites. Year 9 and sixth form at one site - gcse students at the other. This enables Whitley Bay High school to increase intake numbers based on its outstanding reputation. |
Because where are the children that do go to Monkseaton high going to go? |
If the school was upgraded and relevant measures put in place to attract new pupils I’m sure there would be in influx of new applications maybe specialise in computer programming or gaming something relevant to the world we live in now |
Allow the houses in the surrounding area of the school to be built as there is a large estate being built which will have no high schools with spaces available near them |
Looks like the building is too big for the amount of children . To reduce costs why not make the whole building into an education village from nursery to sixth form ? Reducing costs one building . Look at Darlington education village which has out the primary school , and ever the Sen school all into one site . Sell the schools their grounds from other schools pay off the debt . |
Amalgamate school with a middle school |
I feel like from the info provided, we aren’t able to form opinions around why the deficit has grown so bad and why it can’t be managed back to balance via (and I hate to use the Government phrase) austerity measures. I’d like to see that explored or explained first. |
Could what was Queen Alexandra College have A level provision here? |
Merge with another with one governing body |
Build more social housing in the area |
Move to 2 tier, like other North Tyneside schools. |
I wasn't directed to the frequently asked questions so haven't had the opportunity to read them |
Open up all of Whitley bay for catchment to Whitley bay high school only right Whitley bay town centre children to be asked to go to Whitley high. No way should kids travel miles away to another school |
Remodel as a subsidiary of Whitley Bay High, with its own deputy head and existing WBHS head having overall oversight of both. |
Write off the debt so that WBHS will take it on - or an academy would |
There are house being built left right and centre in our region. Where is the forward planning from the council regarding that on public services such as schools etc? LHS is at full capacity as it St Marys. Closing this school is a ridiculous idea and an embarrassment tot he region. The children are our future. Cramming them in to fewer schools is an outrage. If this closure goes ahead, the mayor and the SLT at the council should hang their heads in shame ...... |
The school building is so new but appears costly to run, could it be made more efficient. Could the catchment boundaries be redrawn to enable parents to include more children in the Monkseaton catchment and stop other schools being allowed to take non-catchment children. |
I am worried no children will choose to go to the school this year because it might close, we will have no children coming to the school next year because of the consultation, what will the council do to encourage people to come if they decide to keep the school open? Whitley bay high needs to be smaller so that more children can come to monkseaton high school. |
Have the school become a middle and high school on one |
It’s obvious really, go to a two tier system like the rest of North Tyneside. The only reason it didn’t when the rest of the borough did was parental pressure. Is that fair to the rest of the borough? Of course it isn’t. I was in the Wallsend reorganisation as a teacher, it did me a huge favour and I love the two tier system. That means freeing up buildings for primary schools. Problem solved |
Could the two high schools in north Tyneside be merged onto one site (WBHS) and the sixth forms be merged onto the other site (MSH)? |
Offering more in terms of further education, bigger 6th Form college style learning on sight, be it sports or adult learning or more apprenticeship based hubs or careers learning/Trade Learning. Partner or reduce numbers from Tyne Met College. |
A combination of the options. Moving the three-tier system to a two-tier system of education - it is ridiculous to have two systems in such a small borough. Surely there are older middle schools and first schools that are in inadequate buildings that could be merged into better buildings. Then bring schools together school under one governing body. Whitely Bay high school has been allowed to keep growing and accepting more children to the detriment of Monkseaton. |
Increase the catchment area and PAN at WBHS to cover the whole of the current MHS catchment. Ensure that every child who lives in a WB first school catchment is guaranteed |
Maintain the teaching expertise and environment already prized by the SEN |
The School is not viable |
Use the current facility as a 6-form or college in replace of the closure of Tynemouth College. The council could even have an apprenticeship hub which gives school leavers the option to study apprenticeships. This would mean the schools that currently have 6 forms could expand their school year groups/numbers. |
Bringing together with another school |
None really if it's running at 50% then unless it's joined with another school this isn't viable |
Close Marden High school and combine pupils at Monkseaton High school. |
Engage with another school |
Make to 2 river high school and senco |
To create an education hub, keeping the existing high school on one floor, and bringing in other education services, such as for children with additional needs, mental health issues and those with an autism diagnosis. Education services for these groups of children are under resourced; new government funding streams might be sought. Taken holistically, this should make funding for the whole building sustainable. Other energy efficient measures might also contribute. |
This will need to be funded as closing it is a short sighted view. What would happen if the birth rates increase and the school has already closed. Why was all of the money spent on renewing Whitley Bay High and John Spence when money could have been saved by closing one of those old schools |
3 tier system is more expensive than 2 as younger year groups have the advantage of teachers for individual subjects. The quality of this teaching is invaluable and Govt funding could be requested. |
Closely aligning it with another neighbouring school. |
Make it into a secondary school taking pupils from year 7 to year 11 |
Turn it into an sixth form college |
Sixth form college...the building the contents and the set up cannot be wasted |
6th form college to replace 6th form at Whitley high, which will need to increase their yr9-11 PAN numbers to accommodate the children leaving Marden bridge and Monkseaton middle schools. |
There must be some way of reallocating the pupils more evenly across the schools to make them all financially viable. Whether it is moving to a 2 tier system or repurposing the site for another school as Wellfield is bursting at the seams and doesn't have room to extend. |
Monkseaton should hold 6th form only. |
There are a wealth of options that should be fully explored and vehemently pursued before taking the appalling action of closing this wonderful high school. |
I would combine the two schools - Monkseaton Middle and the high school. |
Think about the overall provision of education across the borough target than focusing on one under utilised school. Redistribution of pupils across all schools will probably be better than forcing pupils at a coastal schools to move away from the coast |
I don’t want it to close I think it’s ridiculous. Where else is my child supposed to go! All the children bunged into Whitley bay high! That is going to be too much for my children! I’m strongly against the closure! |
Sixth Form provision for the area |
Why can't the building be used as a specialist College. Could use it for SEN, especially due to Government planning on adding VAT to private schools. or Could also adapt the building for Higher Education, the nearest College is North Shields, Ashington, Newcastle or Gateshead. I work for a company that delivers electric vehicle training, maybe a carbon footprint centre, to support non-fossil fuel energies. |
There's over 3000 potential new homes being built behind the school. Children from this area will have a great school on their doorstep. |
Move to two tier |
If the school is closed this leaves a big 'black hole' where pupils from the wider Whitley Bay and Cullercoats area have no high school. The year 9 year group were the year group who had no transition to Middle school during covid and suffered in terms of mental heath. They now are faced with being disbanded across the locality. |
More support from National Government to help clear debt and put the school back on an equal footing and also greater collaboration between education, local and national government to drive one of the options forward for example to share the site with a first school (Monkseaton Middle) and therefore sell the land of the school it combines with to invest in education. Basically stop everyone just protecting their own interests and genuinely work together. This is children's and the local areas future at stake. More accountability from all stakeholders is needed |
Making use of the unused part of the building for SEN placement. Maybe an autistic unit. |
Opening SEN high school/6th form college alongside existing provision |
Create a 6th form centre |
Sell a proportion of the field d it isn’t all needed. |
Is there the option of restricting intake sizes to the other high schools in the area, to effectively force more pupils into Monkseaton High School, but not to the extent that it makes other schools unviable or compromises the quality of teaching available? |
Turn the site into a north Tyneside 6th form college and give extra capacity to Whitley bay for high school students |
Keep it open |
It should be used to place children with SEN who are unable to cope in a mainstream setting. |
Incorporate SEND pupils into the school. There are not enough SEND places available at special SCHOOLS, so utilise the space and facilities and help secure the future of Monkseaton High |
There is already a lack of sixth form at both Marden and John Spence, closing another sixth form will reduce further the spaces available for pupils at these schools to go to Whitley High when they leave year 11. It will also put more pressure on Marden to take extra pupils - currently this is an excellent school and it would not remain that way if it becomes overcrowded in class sizes. I feel strongly that Kings were allowed so much privilege when they had to become and academy yet all the other schools have been treated as much poorer counterparts by the education authority. |
Monkseaton High School has a really good reputation in the community for its work with SEND students. It is one of if not the most inclusive schools in the area. Parents actively chose Monkseaton High School because of this. It is well known within the authority that inclusive schools that support SEND and that focus upon a mainstream education are required. Working with governors and local schools redesignating Monkseaton High School allowing it to keep its mainstream focus but also allowing it to have an ARP and an SEN unit that is properly funded would keep the three tier system and meet the needs of the local authority’s SEND requirements. This may require discussions with the school, SENCo, governors and local schools but this is an opportunity to really embrace inclusivity and support the young people of North Tyneside. |
A centre of excellence for SEND children and young people We have many children who need a place with mental health etc We could offer places to children from all LAs who would pay for the children to use the facilities to help with the financial deficit. It is a good location too for traveling |
Whitley high should have been made bigger not smaller . Yes more waist of our money by the local council |
Adding pupils from whitley bay to monkseaton |
A 2 tier school or an academy |
Increase the high school PAN to allow a greater number of children to attend. I believe the current PAN lead to some children being turned away last year due to the year group being full!!! |
Ensuring equal distribution of pupils to all local high schools. Not allowing WBHS to go to almost full if not over capacity. Reviewing the catchment areas to fairly distribute the children |
Create a much needed SEND unit at Monkseaton High |
Using the existing building to provide places for students with various send needs in the area. Could the high school merge with middle schools as an alternative to create a 2 tier education system in libe with other schools in the local area. |
Do not Close the School |
Keeping it open. There are new houses being built nearby so where are all these students living there going to go to get educated? |
Spread the number of pupils from the other local schools to boost numbers. If you live near to the school then go to the school, |
The only solution I agree with would be to put it with Whitley Bay High School, however don’t agree that Whitley Bay should have to be in debt cause of monkseaton |
Merge with another successful school under one governing body. |
Please can we go back to Monkseaton middle and encourage them to merge with us to create years 7-13. One of the first schools (Apple Tree Gardens) could use the MMS site as a full primary school freeing up some land space. |
Keep the schools. The three tier system is so beneficial for the development of children and Teenagers, and one of the biggest draws to this area (speaking as a parent who has stayed in this area for that very reason and know many other parents of this mindset) |
None |
Have you considered reducing the number of pupils at Whitley Bay. A few years ago you allowed Whitley Bay HS to increase their numbers which directly impacted Monkseaton. |
How was this deficit not identified as a risk during the financial appraisal of the project. Sensitivity analysis should have considered pupil numbers, operational life cycle costs and funding from central, all as detailed in the Treasury Green! |
Link with first and primary schools in the area and become an all age academy, providing a more seemless and streamlined curriculum from aged 3-18, including embracing FE courses and degree apprenticeships for post 16 learners. |
I would suggest that the choice of school should be taken off the parents and go back to a feeder school system. For example if you go to valley gardens middle and wellfield middle then you feed whitley bay high. Then if you are at monkseaton middle and Marden middle then you feed into Monkseaton high. This would mean a more even spread of pupils and funding. This system worked before, and made for a smoother transition from middle to high school taking away a very stressful time for alot of pupils. |
Merging with Whitley High and becoming a 6th form/sen centre |
Offer a wider post 16 option |
Keep it open an additional year so all pupils currently there can complete GCSEs without yje disruption of being moved to another school just as they start. It is a difficult transition especially when you could end up in a school without any of your peers |
Make it a secondary school and take away 6th form |
I think the building seems to be the issue as changing catchment areas would fix the pupil number issue- WBHS is over subscribed |
provide quality, inclusive, mainstream SEND provision which would allow children and young people to continue to be educated to Post 16 and beyond working with businesses and partners offering vocational opportunities in preparing for adulthood. Age range year 7 to 13. |
Change to two tier education system |
Expand the catchment area to cover Shiremoor/Backworth where the new housing developments are. Catchment school is Killingworth which is not suitable for that area and is 94% fully occupied (with more houses being built). Its is a win win scenario. You could stop over subscribing to Whitley Bay which would reduce the burden on Whitley Bay and give Monkseaton more pupils. |
Full merger with Whitley high, not just a shared leadership. The year groups and 6th form would be spread across both sites, one site would have 6th form and maybe years 9 and 10 the other maybe yes 11 and 12, or 6th form spread across 2 sites, one offering vocational higher education the other traditional academic high education. The offer would need to be made free of the historical debt. The enlarged school would then take the full 3 tier intake, as a more attractive offer would also drag intake from further afield. |
Yes |
Revert to a two tier system throughout north Tyneside. |
Full merger of Monkseaton middle and Monkseaton High, not just a merger of leadership, newly merged school would take children from yr5 all the way to 6th form. All children would be on the high school site, if new additional buildings are needed these would be funded by the sale of the middle school site. The high school is a huge plot and an enlarged car park could help with drop off logistics for year 5 and 6 kids. The merger would need to happen free of historical debt, and if the high school building needs refurbished to accommodate the middle school and offer a fresh start, then so be it. |
The school as an organisation is good with great staff and the children have solid relationships that should be preserved. If it does need to close could it not be feasible to lift the children and staff out of the building into another school with capacity until we've all filtered out in 3 years. Least then the children would be settled emotionally, be able to choose GCSEs linked to their year 9. And they wouldn't be 'alone in an empty building'. It would also allow the staff some job security and they'd be able to continue the amazing work they've begun. |
Every option was rejected as not a viable option so what was the point? |
Restudy the opportunity for a trust to academise MHS, given the most recent understanding that debt will new crystallised and not novated to the trust. |
You seem to have rejected any alternatives without explanation |
Two tier system |
The school to remain open. It is on the edge of one of the UKs biggest planned housing developments with 1000s of houses planned to be built on the schools perimeter. In the short term while the houses are being built their maybe a shortage of the correct aged children, however in 2 or 3 years time on completion of the new houses then the local population will hugely increase giving the need for such schools in the local. |
Make a north Tyneside sixth form provision. |
Realistically you aren’t going to take on a suggestion from anyone in the local community. It seems as though the decision has been made and this is an attempt to make the community feel empowered in the future of monkseaton high school. |
It’s a modern fairly newly built school in comparison to other nearby high schools. Once the new housing estate behind is complete surely there will be a demand for the school |
The future of the children is a good enough reason to fight to keep the school open, who I feel aren’t really being made a priority at all. |
None, there's not enough schools around to hold oll these children not to mention all the children who will be coming to the new estate being built right behind this school. Where are all of the kids going to attend? |
Keep school open until yr9 children finish GCSEs. It has been suggested that it wouldn't be good for them to be the last year through the school but someone needs to be last. If not these yr9 it will be the current yr8 10. Council will need to ensure the number of teachers and the curriculum can be met. |
There is inadequate 6th form provision across Marden High, kings, and Whitley high, as a result kings and Whitley high are quite selective, the number of 6th form places should grow. As the council can't launch a 6th form college only an academy can, Whitley bay high should be encouraged or incentivised to grow and span two sites offering a much broader curriculum and 6th form to cover both academic subjects and vocational subjects. The council would need to cover the existing debt and cover at least part of the costs to refurb and fit out Monkseaton High to allow this to happer |
Make the school smaller ie fewer classes per year group and use the remaining buildings and rooms for other things. |
I think the school leaders and governors should reconsider changing the school to a two tier school. This could increase pupil numbers |
Provision of ARP for smooth transition for children with SEN. Monkseaton Middle have a number of children with SEN this would allow smooth transition and alternative offer for children who can achieve academically but struggle with Sensory, Emotional and mental health or diagnosis of Autusm, ADHD etc |
put all the children from Monkseaton middle and Appletree Gdns schools into this building. bringing them all under one roof , so no change of venue when the children move through the school system, then the old buildings could be demolished and social housing built |
None |
Combine with middle schools such as Monkseaton Middle school with older buildings to allow this space to be used more effectively. Or academisation. |
Provide a more technical/vocational provision at Monkseaton High to complement the more academic provision available in the borough. Locate the 6th form provision there that used to be at Hawkey's Lane |
I have no other suggestions to make |
Sell part of tve school field, change to 2 tier system |
shut one of the failing schools in the area or is that land not as valuable? |
Secondary or share with primary schools |
Merge with another school |
Don’t think there is an option |
Change catchment area. Whitley high and marden are both oversubscribed. Redress the balance. Make the 6th form offer choices that WBHS and Kings don’t offer. |
Although the council are saying at this time there are not enough children to fill the school there are a lot of SEN children out of school desperately needing education places to suite needs in the area of high school age . Can the council not consider offering an alternative provision within the high school ? |
Take in a cohort of students with SEND requirements as a grouo separate to existing year groups . We are desperately in need of further bespoke provision. |
Change school to extend the SEN provision within north tyneside to allow the children who fall into the gap, ie needs not significant enough to go to special school but struggle in main stream |
Change it to a 2 tier school. There’s a brand new estate being built right next to it and will be full of family homes. The 2 nearest high schools won’t have the capacity for all the new children in the area |
We need more high schools rather than closing down any we need more bulit |
If the building and upkeep is not cost effective then I can’t understand why it would be kept. Knock it down and use the land for alternative provision. If the building is cost effective then use it as it is for alternative provision. Moorbridge, silverdale are at full capacity and there is a huge need for more alternative provision in the borough. |
Moving to a 2 tier system, admitting children from year 7 to give another option to parents particularly those whose options are George stephenson which is literally falling down. |
None |
Keep the school. Make better use of the space available to pupils and the remaining space should be used / offered to small businesses and charities at reasonable rates. The sports facilities should be opened to the public. Notwithstanding the proximity to North Tyneside Hospital, discussions must be held with NHS to deliver a range of diagnostic/ rehabilitative services, including dental, podiatry for example. |
Joining it with other schools eg primary and make it similar to kings school woth all ages. |
If other schools are over PAN (I appreciate those numbers are discretional) why are you allowing them to be over subscribed & Monkseaton under subscribed? |
Opening 4 days a week and for the 5th day children to self study using it systems |
Opening a SEN school o site specifically for ASD students who have semi needs not academic struggles. The size of the school would help these students better bond with nt individuals and allow the level of support they need the size of the school from a sensory perspective os better to larger schools cannot provide the Same level of suppo has consideration been given to offering those on apprenticeships to use the school for their trainjng such as retaking gcses or offering niche subject trainjng such aimed at non gcse options to adults / childre out of school/etoas pupils/homeschool etc. rt |
Move to a multi toer |
Why have you never put a send unit within the school?? This would also generate extra funds. |
Keep it open or open an alternative high school in the three tier system |
Support should be given to the school to improve it to a point where parents are actively choosing other schools due to the reputation of Monkseaton High. There are several other schools in the area which (given the right resources) could help train and support the current staff to improve the school. |
Merging whitley bay |
Moving to a 2 tier system. |
Can I ask why when you changed the rest of the borough to 2 tier you ignored parents and staff views until it came to changing the Whitley Bay and Monkseaton pyramids? |
I'm not sure an alternative is appropriate but I'd be interested to hear whether the school could be partially repurposed to act as a base for new provisions to address other children's issues in the north east such as the increasing need for Alternative Provision and SEMH or autism specialist centres to help reduce exclusions and improve outcomes for children with complex needs. This might help to reduce high cost placements in other areas working together with other LAs. |
Could the school share its site with marden bridge to share building costs? Marden bridge is due a rebuilt so this may save money allocated for this over the next few years? Any adaptations required to Monkseaton site could be funded by the money already allocated to rebuild the marden bridge site. Marden bridge middle will likely shrink if the additional high school places are lost and may no longer be viable without the additional student numbers. Marden bridge and Monkseaton should share the site to maintain the future of them both. |
Close or don't close I propose finding a way to keep current year 9 pupils there till 2027 and let them stay together and do their Gcse's. I understand staff retention may be an issue but if we gave incentives I'm sure enough would stay to help these kids as they actually care. Also I feel if we reached out to parents and the public they would do all they can to help. |
Bringing the school together with another local school under one governing body |
Turning it into a college, with the possible closure of Tyne Met where do learners go after high school? Spaces could also be rented out to local groups like they do at The Linkskill Centre |
close the middle schools. change to a 2 tier system. |
CLOSE THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS |
CLOSE THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS |
This cannot be considered in isolation. This consultation throws the lives and education of many children into limbo. The way in which this consultation is being conducted is irresponsible and harmful to students in the school and in the current Y8 cohort. There are longer term implications for all children and schools in the 3 tier system. |
TEst |
Keep it open and encourage more pupils. Promotion to new housing estates. I would hate for Whitley Bay to move to a 2 tier system. The 3 tier system is a much healthier transition process for children and it's a shame there aren't more still available. |
Close Churchill while a new school is built on that site |
Make WBHS an 11 to 18 school with their sixth form based at monkseaton. This would mean getting rid of the three tier system which the authority has been aiming for for over 20 years |
Bringing together with another local school under one governing body and a sixth form for Whitley Bay and North Shields |
Local Labour MP should liaise with Labour Government to adequately remedy the situation - perhaps ask government to fund the school rather than new cycle lanes on the sea front. |
To closely consider the secondary education required across North Tyneside, and contest the redevelopment of both Churchill and George Stephenson on the grounds of misuse of public funds, since education capacity already exists in Monkseaton and other schools. |
I woukd suggest that the LA a more equal distribution of placements between Whitley- Bay and Monkseaton. Those who live in the catchment of Monkseaton High should go to that school. It is not a failing school and there is no good reason for families to 'demand' their children go to Whitley-Bay High. |
Have made several, tur jngbinto a asd specialising and nt school, going to a 4 day week with 1 day remote learning, opening to apprentices to take gcses along side their apprenticeships, utilising space and coordinating with the hospital and let them.use rooms for training. Letting residents use the gym, turning it into a community hub for banks/citizens advice/ age uk etc to use. |
What high school are all children going to attend who will be living in the 3000 new family homes they are building on the adjoining fields |
There is a borough wide shortage of special school places. Why not develop SEND provision that would allow some of the older pupils in Woodlawn/ Southlands/Silverdale/Moorbridge and even Beacon Hill to access the KS4 and post 16 provision within Monkseaton building. Just like Benton Dene & Benton Dene Primary being co-located. |
Merge Monkseaton High School with Marden High School. I know that they are 2 different school systems (1 a 2 tier & 1 part of a three tier) but keep the 2 School sites & spread the year groups over the 2 sites......maybe make one site a "lower School site" & the other an "upper tier School site" |
Monkseaton High School could merge with Churchill Community High School making use of our building with the additional students would bring in the funding. |
Convserstion to a two teir system school |
I would suggest that the council gives a more detailed response about the avenues already explored as any to say that discussions with partners on the options have not proved successful. This is not good enough as how can we have a transparent consultation when we are not privy to these discussions or meetings. This 'consultation ' is not fit for purpose there are more questions around monitoring than the school its self . It may be an idea to ask the mayor and her cabinet/labour group to write to the secretary of state for education for funding to save the school just as the secretary of state did in 2013 when Kings priory was saved |
Sell part of the land to developers or for council use for future development projects, and convert part of the school into technical collage or apprenticeship training collage for upskilling youth (16-19 years as an example). We have a severe lack of trade, and accessible schemes in the region - there is no reason Whitley bay could not be a hub for this activity and reuse part of buildings that could be sectioned off with a strategic and logistical architectural layout adjustment. |
Rigoursly enforce catchment areas (for example preventing people briefly "renting" in Whitley Bay from registering children in Whitley High, before moving to an actual home closer to Monkseaton High). |
Help and support , there are new houses being built , those kids will need a school to go to , if needed reduce places avaliable at other schools to bump up places at monkseaton high to bring in revenue |
Turn Rockcliffe into a single form entry Primary which feeds into Marden High. Let South Whitley Bay become 2 tier so Rockcliffe, Cullercoats and Monkhouse feed into Marden High. Marden High is the closest Secondary school for many Rockcliffe kids anyway and still a local school for them. |
Have options been explored in detail with North Tyneside Learning Trust? |
Please give further consideration to wiping the current debt (as has been done for other schools in this area), merge WBHS and MHS years 9, 10 and 11 who will be at WBHS site and have MHS building as joint 6th form. |
Please could consideration be given to a MHS, Marden and WBHS joint sixth form. WBHS could take years 8-11 on their current site. Marden pupils for years 8-11 will stay on their current site. The sixth form could operate from the current MHS site. This will result in more pupil numbers at MHS. |
Please see next page |
I would like to suggest that the employees of MHS are offered provision in other North Tyneside schools where at all possible. Some staff have moved from successful schools into the school on promoted roles; aiming to increase the output. At the start of the 3rd week of employment, they are told that their move was not worth it. |
Instead of repairing Churchill School in Wallsend which could potentially cost 25 million, move Churchill pupils to fill Monkseaton High School |
To close Norham High School and Longbenton High School who has the other deficit in the area and move pupils to Monkseaton High School |
Keep Year 9s in Monkseaton High School to finish their GCSEs |
I think you need to go back to the options you've rejected and if you are going to conduct a confusion you need to put more energy into canvassing the options of the hundreds of families and children affected than a survey open for 6 weeks, conducted at the same time year 8s are choosing options for next year. This is a shambles and we all deserve better. |
Make it a 6th form for North Shields. |
It is quite clear that the school needs to be merged with Monkseaton Middle school, the obvious solution to save both schools and keep the 3 tier system in operation |
Move to 2 tier system |
Stop letting other schools become over subscribed |
Split site with WBHS. Or end the three tier system and do the job properly instead of picking off the sitting ducks as your currently (shamefully) doing. |
Make this a consultation into the three tier system. The closure of MHS would mean insane inequality of educational opportunities for WB children. Most go to WBHS but some unfortunates are bussed off to failing schools to balance the books at Norham. You can't dismantle the system one piece at a time to the detriment of children. Just get on and do it make the whole thing two tier. The parents at the coast want good local schools not a three tier system. |
Combine WBHS and Monkseaton High |
Keep it open for current Year 7s onwards until full area wide plan can be developed with a clear educational pathway for all children in Whitley Bay. |
Other surrounding schools within catchment to open up spaces and employ more teachers to take in the existing children in year 9 of Ash asap |
1 - As someone who is employed in the private sector my observation is that no where near enough has been done to identify points of differentiation between Monkseaton & Whitley Bay high schools and market Monkseaton to make is just as desirable to new students and parents. Intervention of this nature could have increased pupil numbers before the school ended up in this dire financial situation. For example a marketing/social media executive could have been employed to advertise Monkseaton high school where young people hang out (tik tok, facebook, instagram) and points of differentiation should have been explored (sports academy, specialise in languages etc etc). |
Have Whitley bay high school using this building and all children in MHS crachement area do get to WBHS |
Keeping the 3 tier system but maybe changing to an academy status or combining it with WBH and have it u see one governing body. If it was to shut there's nowhere for the children to go and it would break the 3 tier system |
Rockcliffe 1 form entry Primary feeds into Marden High and becomes 2 tier. The catchment children most effected are the ones who live in the Rockcliffe catchment, they are too far away to get into WBHS so they are your catchment kids currently attending MHS. These kids shouldn't spend their middle school years worrying about getting into WBHS. Give them a clean break out of the dysfunctional and failing three tier system andcallow those kids to go to Marden High School. That should be their clear pathway. All of the other NEPA kids will comfortably fit into WBHS. The kids in the three tier system from out of catchment will go to their catchment schools of George Stephenson and John Spence. You'll have to close a middle school as MBMS will lose its Rockcliffe cohort and Wellfield and MMS will lose their out of catchment cohorts. |
Secondary |
It is my suggestion that some of the 'alternative proposals' which are alleged to have been considered, are considered again - only this time, fully and with integrity with all parties maintaining openness and being available for public scrutiny. |
Get another operator |
You have a large new housing estate behind the school. Where are all the children going to go to school from there? Where are the children going to go to school who are in the monkseaton high school,catch,ent area already. Keep the school,open. Clear the debts ND STOP SENDING CHILDEEN ALL OVER THE BOROUGH EG KILLINGWORTH |
Keep it open and increase the catchment area to include all the new housing right behind it |
It seems to me unfortunate that a consultation to close MHS is underway given the lack of clarity about future placement of pupils, and the fact that there is not capacity within the Whitley Bay Pyramid for all the current Year 8 pupils should MHS close. I would have preferred to see a full consultation about the continuation of the 3-tier provision in this part of the local authority. |
The case from the council blames falling birth rates since 2018. However, this only affects children age 6 years and below. It can't account for a declining school population aged between 14 - 18 who would have been born between 2006-2010. The declining school population has coincided with exam results / ofsted results making the school a less favourable option for parents. Instead of short term investment to improve the reputation of the school and academic outputs it appears from the FAQ the council and school leaders restricted the school curriculum to cut costs therefore making the school even less of a favourable option. This short term of a couple of years is desperately needed to make the school a competitive option for parents compared to other local schools and even out the school population across local schools. |
Co-locate Monkseaton Middle School with MHS |
Keep it open. |
Change the system in north tyneside to two tier as three tier will not work without monkseaton High School |
This needs to be a consultation on the whole three tier system and NEPA. Treating MHS in isolation is not a community solution, the impact of closure will be wide reaching across existing schools and children of all ages. Parents want good local schools where friends are kept together, they don't have to be three tier schools |
To increase the age range of children attending this school, or make into a sixth form college for North Tyneside. |
Put two schools into one - i.e. middle and high schools in one building |
The whole of the 3 tier system. Will be affected by the change, prior to considering closure a full consultation on the future of education in north Tyneside should be undertaken so that the quality of education can be preserved and re structured in a controlled way, not reactive as each school falls into financial difficulties. |
Add a 6th form |
The school sits in the middle of a lot of land. Depending on who owns this land, could this not be used to generate income for the school? |
Remain open until 2027 to allow current year 9s finish their GCSES. OR remain open. |
Bring in special advisors and skilled people to turn around a financial crisis. The school finances have been left to the governing body and school leadership team. These are not appropriately skilled in this area and governors are voluntary rather than having a full time role to deal with situation like this. |
Doing a review of the whole three tier system instead of closing one school in isolation- there are hundreds of children in the three tier system who will not have a high school place. NTC have (in cabinet minutes) predicted the closure of further first and middle schools as a result. This needs a systematic approach rather than what ......hoping a constant stream of kids over the next 10 years just go away quietly? |
See next section. |
Transfer pupils to Monkseaton Middle School site |
To keep it open for 6th form use only or FE college |
The school should become part of Whitley Bay High, a satellite school and be rebranded. Governors should take on both schools as Gosforth High and Jesmond Par school in Newcastle, working as one body to provide high quality education. The issue is with its past and a new beginning within the remit of NTC is required to provide choice and a status to the school. |
Join with other schools or turn into a secondary school |
As a member of staff in a local middle school, there needs to be a plan and a solution towards the High School. Where are all of the children going to go each year. A lot of Schools within NT are currently over subscribed and are not able to increase numbers. |
Wellfield first and middle schools to merge into a primary school. Turn monkseaton high into a secondary school. Lose the 6th form at monkseaton high school as it is vastly undersubscribed. There are not enough school places for our children. Monkseaton is under capacity because of the 6th form. |
Allow current year 9 to finish GCSEs. |
I would like to ask why the catchment was changed to exclude Whitley Bay South from WBHS catchment? The catchment is wrong, including Earsdon & Monkseaton isn’t right. Earsdon should be George Stephenson/Long Benton, Monkseaton should be MHS & Whitley Bay (including South) should be WBHS! |
Attract more pupils - more income |
Keeping it open - letting it improve over the next few years (new head in place) they will then be able to attract more pupils through reputation and due to the new housing development behind thw school - it will then become viable. Do not bus children to under performing schools where they would have to integrate into already established groups as they would be joining secondary schools 2 years later ie yr 9 - the possibility of bullying is high resulting in mental.health problems, non attendance ect - its a disgusting plan with no regard for the children's welfare |
Write off the debt,reorganize and keep the school open. |
Move the whole of north Tyneside to 2 tier system, this will save on the cost of planned rebuilding the middle schools, and preserve the Monkseaton high site as pupil numbers will increase through years 7 and 8. |
Firstly, I find it astonishing that it's got to this point given the school is barely 15 years old and the system is rigged so blame can be placed on either the school, the council or DfE - and yet no one seems to be taking accountability. It's also impossible to make recommendations with such little information and time! Key questions that go un answered include: |
I would suggest that the council needs to come up with a plan for all the displaced children that will occur if they/you propose to close the school. What we don't want to happen is that the school closes and then we get increased class sizes. |
Special needs provision. Having read other documents, provision that addresses the number of SEND pupils currently not attending school. |
A sixth form |
A school offering more courses such as BTEC and more sixth form provision for the area |
For the school and council to reconsider/explore moving to a secondary school. Children living in the Shiremoor, West Allotment, Northumberland Park area currently have limited options for secondary schools. Although George Stephenson is the feeder school for Shiremoor Primary, my daughter could not get a place as it was over subscribed and missed out because of distance. With more houses being build the options for a secondary school the parents/guardians want to consider, is very limited. Moving Monkseaton High to a secondary school opens those opportunities. |
Becoming part of an Academy Trust |
Firstly, I find it astonishing that it's got to this point given the school is barely 15 years old and the system is rigged so blame can be placed on either the school, the council or DfE - and yet no one seems to be taking accountability. It's also impossible to make recommendations with such little information and time! Key questions that go un answered include: |
Please reconsider the possibility of a merger. Can you discuss with Apple tree first school, Monkseaton Middle and Monkseaton high school to form a 2 tier system across 2 sites. This way no one has to lose their jobs and you will not have the costs of running one of the buildings. |
3 tier to 2 tier |
Make it a sixth form college and a further education college. |
Perhaps amalgamating with another school |
To create a comprehensive and detailed plan to address the financial issues and student numbers at Monkseaton High School, we can break the strategy into the following key areas: |
To create a comprehensive and detailed plan to address the financial issues and student numbers at Monkseaton High School, we can break the strategy into the following key areas: |
Keep the school as a sixth form provision for North Tyneside. |
Allow Monkseaton High to become a specialist SEN provision for North Tyneside, retaining current staff where possible. |
Amalgamation with Monkseaton Middle under one governing body |
I honestly think the school should become a 2 tier school, so that years 7-12 can all attend. With the expected developments in the Murron gap, demand in future years will rise. |
Why not look to bring in Monkseaton Middle School and Appletree Gardens First School into the same premises, thus increasing pupil numbers and maintaining use of a modern building, |
Following, (what I found with my children to be) a better system of catchment areas being a priority rather than parental choice. |
Pause plans to close for one year whilst independent review of options previously considered is carried out. |
Close the 6th form which is the main loss for the school |
North Tyneside’s Council Tax bills are set to absorb the school deficit, so keeping the school open for an extra year wouldn't significantly affect finances. This extension would allow current Year 9 pupils to complete their GCSEs at the school, sparing them the upheaval of switching to another school where peer groups and course options are already established. This stability would benefit the children far more than a disruptive move. |
North Tyneside's Council Tax will cover the school deficit, so keeping the school open for another year wouldn't significantly affect finances. Allowing current Year 9 pupils to complete their GCSEs at the same school would provide stability and prevent the disruption of changing schools, where course options are already selected and friendship groups are well-established. This continuity would greatly benefit the children. |
1. Redrawing Catchment Boundaries |
To at least let the current year 9 finish before closing. |
Either for MHS to become a secondary school or join up with another school. |
Keep the current year 9 until school closes |
There is significant concern regarding the lack of transparency in the consultation |
For it to become an academy, to know where my child will go to high school and to have peace of mind we won’t be classed as a ghost catchment if MHS does close |
We haven't been provided with enough information about options already explored by the Council. There is significant concern regarding the lack of transparency in the consultation process for Monkseaton High School, as the council has failed to provide essential information about the various scenarios explored to address the school's challenges. This absence of clear communication and details on rejected proposals fosters mistrust among parents and highlights the urgent need for the council to provide comprehensive information to ensure that stakeholders are adequately informed about decisions impacting their children's education. |
A sixth form college instead of building one at John Spence when the country is struggling financially and there's a modern building potentially going to sit empty |
Need to change the management of the high school. Best to learn from other schools to see what works, and what measures can be put into place. There are many 'Outstanding' schools in the area - obviously the current set up is not working, so new recruitment strategy is needed along with a new leadership team. |
An inclusive school for yr7+ for children who are waiting to be assessed or need smaller provision, are reluctant to attend school and maybe need more btec options and a sixth form |
Look ar rearranging the catchment areas to ensure pupil numbers. Improve levels of teaching and learning at the school, e.g. GCSE grades/curriculum offer to ensure that it is an attractive offer to parents. Look at turning Monkseaton Middle and Monkseaton High into a 2 tier system. |
None |
As a concerned parent, I firmly believe that the responsibility for addressing the challenges facing MHS lies within the council, not with us as parents or community members. The complexities of school funding, administrative decisions, and educational planning require expertise and resources that we simply do not possess. Solving financial deficits or restructuring schools requires specialized understanding of education policy and budget management. |
i believe if the school does have to close a college could be placed in the building ideally retaining as many staff as possible |
Revisit some of the original rejected suggestions. Some of those conversations happened many years ago. Now that the school is about to close and others are predicted to follow surely local schools would now be incentivised to collaborate. The use of the building as a central coastal 6th form option would be great. |
This is an unreasonable ask to put on parents. I firmly believe that the responsibility for addressing the challenges facing Monkseaton High School lies with the council, not with us as parents or community members. The complexities of school funding, administrative decisions, and educational planning require expertise and resources that we simply do not possess. |
Create it as a secondary school |
Special Educational Needs provision and a smaller school for pupils who find large schools difficult to manage |
There needs to be a local review of the whole 3 tier system in the area, and it needs to be managed in a structured May, not just letting schools gradually fail without any further planning. There needs to be a clear path for children from other schools to access the 6th form at Monkseaton so that it can become sustainable |
I haven't seen any real explanation as to how it's in financial trouble? Even if the school was only half full, then you only need half the resources (i.e. teachers etc), so the Government funding shouldn't matter as it's per child. The school was supposedly some revolutionary design so has efficiencies in heating etc that other schools won't, so it can't be utilities. |
Having read todays news and how SEND pupils are being failed and SEND provision needs a major overhaul, I would suggest a regional centre for excellence for SEN pupils who don't qualify for a place in an SEN school but require provision over and above a mainstream secondary and middle school so they can achieve at GCSE level. Neuro diversity, anxiety, dyslexia, school phobic....all able to access specialist providers and be assessed by staff who really get to know them |
Reduce overcrowding in other schools to boost attendance numbers. Run lean until the new estates are built nearby as they will bring more demand. |
We have other schools in the area that need millions of pounds work done on them. Ie churchill. Why not close that school and use the money towards improving Monkseaton high school. As the building needs no work and is big enough to accommodate the pupils from Churchill. |
I am a pupil at Monkeatin high in year 9. I do not want to have to move schools and make new friends. Find a way to merge with another school or take over 6 form to be able to keep our school open. |
Give the school a chance. A school cannot be about making money. It's about the young people and the communities. |
To remain open: government and local authority funding to be made available to ensure local young people have an educational space. |
Given the lack of detailed information and the snap decision to closure the school only two weeks into the school year; it doesn’t seem appropriate to expect the parents to come up with a plan that will withstand further investigation. |
Question 2 |
Join Monkseaton Into the two tier system as a feeder school for Shiremoor Primary, Backworth Primary and New York Primary. This would ease the difficulty for getting into current feeder schools and would provide much easier transport routes than current feeder destinations. |
i) The Council has provided scant information about the previous discussions with potential academy trusts to take over Monkseaton High School. |
There is significant concern regarding the lack of transparency in the consultation |
With the new building in the area the children living locally would be delighted to have their school within sight of their homes. Are these new houses which lie to the west of the school within the catchment area - if they are not could the boundaries be redrawn? |
I don't believe it is appropriate to task parents with the job of coming up with an alternative when they do not have the information, expertise and data available to the local authority. |
Ask governing bodies to lower PANS in local schools to enable more students to come to MHS. One local school teaches it's pupils in their canteen - this is not high quality education. Education should not be about competition. |
Make it into a two tier system school instead of sixth form because sixth form is lacking students. |
Use of the old Whitley Bay High school to add enough capacity to take current students from Monkseaton High. This would allow future capacity for all students within the three tier system. Teachers from Monkseaton High could move with the students therefore retaining jobs and meaning that students would continue to have teachers that they already had relationships with (particularly important for GCSE students). |
Ensure the council allocate children to monkseaton properly instead of oversubscribed whitley bay high, you could also offer an incentive for groups of kids to attend which in turn will increase funding |
Keep it open, spend time and money promoting it, its successes, the passion of the pupils and staff and how the community needs it |
School admissions need to be increased. I still don’t understand how the school can be running at 50% capacity. If this is just down to parental choice surely this would be happening all over the place. |
In conjunction with other high schools in the area, more equal distribution of students so that while capacity diminishes in all areas it’s more equitable and allows all schools to continue. |
Bringing the school together with another local school under one governing body |
I live in South Whitley Bay, next to Rockcliffe school. The only fair thing to do would be to change catchment of whitley bay to include us. Ie the only way to keep the 3 tier system. |
Changing 3 to2 tier system to enable pupils, parents, staff and community be reassured and able to plan for their futures. This will ensure that Monkseaton can continue to support its high proportion of SEN pupils,14.3%. |
Reduce capacity at other schools to rebalanced intakes |
Public funding initiatives to get support from local families and businesses fpr sustainable growth |
If the building is too expensive to maintain in its present form either a) a new building is required longer term or b) a change to the catchment areas with expansion of existing schools within the current 3 tier system at other levels. It’s impossible for the closure of this school not to be seen via it’s impacts on the wider context of the three tier system here at the coast. |
Make the school into a top 6th form destination for all secondary and high schools. This would free up space at the other |
Proposals to ensure a consistantly high education for our young people in light of student numbers not reducing until current reception year - meaning 8 years time. |
There is currently a strong need for some sort of SEN provision across the whole borough and indeed further afield. It is proving more and more difficult to find appropriate school places for children with SEN who don’t fulfil the very narrow criteria for specialised provision. Therefore it seems like a huge opportunity here to address this gap. Failing that, if MHS does close there will be even fewer sixth form places in the area. Again, it seems like a perfect opportunity to address this gap. |
As a concerned parent, I strongly believe that the responsibility for addressing the challenges facing Monkseaton High School lies with the council, rather than the parents or community members. I feel that I lack access to the necessary information to build a convincing case. However, I do see the following as potential solutions: |
A borough wide discussion about the future of schools in the area. Monkseaton High School could be used for the schools due a rebuild so pupils are completely off those sites while Monkseaton High School can still operate as a smaller high school to see what the numbers would be like in a few years time |
1) Revisit the options to allow a year 7 intake into Monkseaton High School, alongside a year 9 entry (dual entry works at other schools in the area, including in Gosforth and Tynemouth). The data showing which areas current Monkseaton High School students live shows that there is clearly demand for Monkseaton High School in areas such as Shiremoor and Preston Grange - families live much closer to Monkseaton High than their catchment schools, but as the local primaries are in the 2 tier system it is difficult to find a route into Monkseaton High. Creating a year 7 entry for pupils in these areas would allow families to send their children to a much more local secondary school than their current catchment schools (Shiremoor residents are in the catchement for George Stephenson for example, which is a bus ride away, but MHS is within walking distance). It could be modelled like part of a middle school, much in the same way that Cramlington Learning Village operates (years 7 and 8 are taught on a separate part of the school site, and don't mix at all with the older year groups). |
The school should be allowed to continue teaching all students that are currently there until they complete their education. The area needs an additional 6th form (currently John Spence are looking to have a sixth form which would need to be built. I would make more sense to use Monkseaton High to accommodate this. The building could also be used as a college. There are very few courses on offer at North Tyneside College, most children from the area have to travel to Newcastle for further education. The current building has capacity to run as a high school aswell as a 6th form and/or a college. Using the current building would be better use of money rather than build a 6th form at John Spence. |
You're the experts but I would suggest widening the school catchment area to ensure that all places are fulfilled. Shut down the bean counters and fully fund both school and teachers. |
Temporarily close and open again when you've thought about it properly |
Can some of the £1.4bn funding for crumbling schools be used to invest in MHS to address the energy issues and make the school viable ? It is a fantastic school and a potentially excellent location. Has any surveying or design work been done to understand what would make it more efficient to run ? |
Monkseaton High school has a fantastic reputation for providing safe education for SEND pupils. Could it become a specialist school in this regard ? SEND students also receive additional funding. The impact on these children of disruption and re-integration with new schools has not been well considered. |
It strikes me that there is a poor offering of sixth form / 16 + education across North Tyneside. Whitley Bay High School is the only real option currently but is mostly only open to WBHS students and a select few others with high grades. |
Unreasonably asking parents to sort this out |
Improving the 6th form to provide a good range of subjects and attract the needed number of students. This makes more sense to utilise an existing building rather than build a new one at John Spence. As there is a proposal to have a 6th form at JS then there is clear need in the local area. |
Due to MHS having a higher than average number of SEN pupils and there being a shortage of provision across NT could this school not become a specialised provision? It has an excellent reputation for supporting in a much better way than any other high school in NT and this could be capitilised upon. |
Make monkseston middle and high a secondary school - |
Catchments are redrawn so that Whitley Bay South (Rockcliffe first school catchment) becomes part of WBHS catchment. |
Hire the school facilities out |
Close the sixth form or change to a secondary school |
Make it a hub for SEN pupils in North Tyneside along with offering smaller class sizes to those who are less academically fortunate. |
Change the high school into a 2 tier school. Lose the 6th form |
Keep Monkseaton open. Offer school to local football clubs etc to increase revenue |
Merging it with the middle school, |
Whitley bay high |
Allow Monkseaton to take more students and lower numbers of other schools allowed students like whitely bay who are too full |
Making sure that all residents in Monkseaton for that catchment school are placed in Whitley Bay High School. At the moment some people in Monkseaton no longer have a pathway for their education at high school level. |
I suggest you come up with a better plan and consult on that. This is not a meaningful consultation. |
Close one of the other failing schools - those with deficits, poor Ofsted ratings or crumbling buildings. Use MHS to accommodate displaced students and teachers. |
Use the current building to continue educating pupils to GCSE. Carry on with the 6th form and there'd be no need for John Spence to build one in their site. Due to a lack of provision for further education in the area, there's not many courses at Tyne Met, the building could also be |
Changing catchment areas for Whitley Bay high. Creating a 6th form college. Specialist SEN school. |
Changing the remit of the school. |
Anything which is better-thought-out than closing a school which is pivotal to a tiered framework. Closure will cause the whole 3-tier system to become dysfunctional. Instead, the Council and all local schools should work together to either preserve the 3-tier system or to phase it out in a planned and measured fashion. This current proposal smacks of very bad planning and lack of forethought. |
Close the school sixth form. |
Phase Rockcliffe First School from 2 tier to 3 tier over next couple years with those kids moving on to Marden high school. |
The school to stay as a 3 tier school and the current yr 9 be allowed to stay and finish their education with no disruption |
Remain open - change catchment areas to attract more pupils into school |
I would suggest PAN numbers for WBHS are reduced and those for Monkseaton increased to a level where both schools can financially break even. |
Change to two tier, I know that this was consulted previously, but circumstances change, and there may be more support now. More years in the school will increase overall pupil numbers therefore increasing funding. |
Either a merge with a first school as a two tier option, or merge a more extensive sixth form college for NT with existing MHS |
Redraw catchments and turn it into 2-tier system school |
SEN provision |
Students should be allocated schools in a tighter catchment so monkseaton high would have more pupils and have strict feeder schools. |
There is a huge requirement in our area for additional provision for SEN education. There is a significant gap between places needed and available. Use this as an opportunity to bridge that gap. In the short term it will meet a need. Longer term it prevents the closure of a school which will be sorely needed in a couple of years when the three thousand homes are occupied in the Murton gap. |
Go two tier and have a quality sixth form provision which is both enriching and aspirational. |
I don't believe the consultation should have reached this stage. Proper attempts have not been made to find alternative solutions such as academy sponsors. Insufficient consultation has been done with other Borough schools. |
Close the failing school whose building is going to cost the same if not more than Monkseatons debt to repair, ie Churchill, move the Churchill pupils to Monkseaton high, year 7s already worked there last year and make Monkseaton high a secondary 11-16 high school. There are plans in place already to close a middle school and 2 first schools so move to a 2 tier system now rather than in the future. |
The Council should pass a by-law that in the Council’s area pupils can only attend a school within their catchment area. We live in Whitley Lodge / Valley Gardens and WB High catchment and lots of pupils from the Monkseaton area use our schools but should be going to their closest schools. Catchment areas are there for a reason. This would force pupils back into Monkseaton schools. |
Re draw catchment areas and move to a 2 tier system. There needs to be a clear educational pathway for all children in Whitley Bay and it’s not acceptable to have an area of Whitley Bay without a school/pathway |
Move Whitley Bay High School 6th form to be based at Monkseaton and expand it to become a 6th form centre for North Tyneside. This would mean there are more spaces for students in Years 9-11 in the 3 tiered system to |
If NTC are to take on the debt of MHS (that is historic debt and absolutely no beating on the running of the school,)) then all options should be clearly, without agenda, transparently looked at again. |
Not sure but the fact that the intake was full the last two years suggests that the school will be viable in the future especially with the new housing estate near by. You could also redraw the school boundaries to try and bring in more pupils. |
Making MHS possibly a high school with a Send unit. |
A 2 tier system or a sixth form college should be explored more fully. |
I am answering this on behalf of Archery GB. I would suggest working with the wider community, health partners, leisure providers to open the space up outside of school hours and become a health and well-being hub in the area |
A six form college is badly is badly needed . Do not close this building think of our kilds think of their future : forward thinking to maybe a two tier system . So many options think of our kids future . |
Keep my school open so I can finish my GCSE's. |
To keep catchments strict so that children go to the school they’re allocated to and only to |
Extend the 6th Form in Monkseaton High. We do not have enough 6th Form opportunities in our area, other than Whitley Bay High you have to travel to Newcastle College since Queen Alexandra closed its doors. |
The published intake figures for the last few years indicates full capacity of those year groups (as per the revised PAN of 150). Given the building of the large housing estate next to the school, it seems likely this trend would continue and it would therefore not take long for the full school to be operating at full capacity as currently defined. |
Expand and invest in the 6th Form to make it more advantageous to current pupils and residents in North Tyneside. The current 6th form does not offer enough courses which is forcing pupils into other areas, the cuts were made to help reduce the debt but this has had a knock on effect. The surrounding high schools do not have 6th form provisions therefore have to travel out of there area to Newcastle College, which is far away and costly. If we invest in the 6th form at Monkseaton High it can support pupils from Marden, John Spence etc. Extra government funding is needed since Queen Alexandra College was closed. Extending the 6th Form at Monkseaton would then support the lower pupil numbers in the lower year groups. |
The school needs to collaborate with Norham high school another school which below numbers and part of the north Tyneside education alliance. and jointly take become a sen school with buddy system with able bodied pupils and a sixth form college which is sadly lacking in the North Shields area. |
As a parent of a Year 8 child, I am surprised how little information we have been given about the situation and previously considered alternative proposals. |
I have 2 thoughts: a workable plan whereby all the schools in 3 tier system work together - it means priority is given to those children to get into mhs and WBHS . There needs to be assistance given to mhs to provide a wider curriculum and promote the school - instead of competing, WBHS and mhs need to work together and be seen as ‘complimentary schools’ - the new buildings near mhs should have been directed into three tier potentially - or we go two tier in the county but with a plan - I can’t believe the space at mhs isn’t needed for the foreseeable - it’ll be at least 10 years before our lower reception birthrate year comes through - as part of the next stage of development maybe mhs can have a SEND arp or facility to bring together the various units in n Tyneside. |
There are 3 other high schools in the area, John Spence, Marden High and Norham who do not have a 6th form unit. |
I am appalled by the shambolic handling of the Monkseaton High School governance by the Learning Trust and North Tyneside Council. Their failure has allowed this unacceptable situation to arise and develop into the scandal that we are now faced with. |