North Tyneside Council has launched a second consultation to close Hazlewood Primary School in Wideopen, months after the initial proposal was blocked by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. An extraordinary cabinet meeting on Monday saw members unanimously agree to start a new consultation, prompting fury from parents who attended but were not allowed to speak.
Background to the closure plan
In June, the Schools Adjudicator blocked the council's plans to close the school and merge it with nearby Greenfields Primary School. Pupils are currently taught in temporary modular classrooms due to structural concerns linked to weak and brittle concrete in the main building.
The adjudicator's report cited "severe shortcomings" in the council's initial proposals and noted the "quality" of the education provided. However, it added that while the school "could continue for a time" due to sufficient pupil numbers, it should not do so "indefinitely" in the "absence of certainty about the availability of funding to replace its current buildings".
Parents' reaction
After the report was presented, no members asked a question and the proposals were voted through unanimously. Parents who attended the meeting in numbers were not given an opportunity to speak.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, one father, who did not give his name, said: "Not one of them has committed half an hour to go and see the school which they are deciding for the second time to close. What on earth are they doing? They're accountable to the public and there is no accountability."
Mum Jane Masterman said: "Our kids are going to remember primary school as years of consultation. It's not fair. Why is it fair to decide the children's future without going to see the school and not asking a question? They just see numbers on a screen. The headteacher is the best headteacher anyone could ask for. I would have loved to have him as my headteacher."
Leah Wilkie added: "It's a community. We're putting our foot down - we're not just rolling over for them. You don't mess with mothers. The teachers are putting on a smile every day so the kids don't sense it. The school is functioning as normal. When you have a child in lockdown, you worry about them socialising but they're thriving at Hazlewood - they're going to ruin all of that and take it away. They're doing great. It could be all the difference between your child enjoying school or not, the difference between them being successful. If anything, the council should want the children to succeed and be safe in a secure environment - that is not their goal and it is blatant to see."
Council's position
Speaking at the meeting, cabinet member for education Coun Tracy Hallway said: "We are seeking approval for a consultation to close Hazlewood Primary School. I want to acknowledge the children, parents, carers, staff, governors and anyone here today from Hazlewood. I recognise this is not simply a building or a proposal - Hazlewood is your school, it is where you have made memories. I understand this will be worrying and the uncertainty surrounding the school has already been very difficult. Today, cabinet is not being asked to close Hazlewood Primary School. We are being asked whether we should begin a consultation process. We have a responsibility that schools remain safe, sustainable and capable of meeting the needs of our children and young people. The council has had to consider the long-term sustainability of the site. Hazlewood is currently operating out of temporary arrangements because significant parts of the main building can't be safely used. We have continued to explore additional funding opportunities and no viable rebuild solution has been identified. It requires we begin a formal consultation so parents, carers, staff and other stakeholders have a clear opportunity to understand the evidence and provide their views before any further decisions are made. Our focus remains securing the best possible outcome for children and young people. We will continue to work closely with families, children and staff to ensure support is there throughout the process."
Rebecca Wall, Director of Children's Services at North Tyneside Council, said: "Cabinet agreed to commence a pre-publication consultation on the potential closure of Hazlewood Primary School from September 2028. No decision has been made to close the school. The consultation will give parents, staff, governors, trade unions, residents and other stakeholders the opportunity to review information and share their views before any future decision is taken."
If approved, the school would close at the end of the school year in 2028.
