North Tyneside Council's cabinet has given the go-ahead to begin consulting families over plans to move SEND pupils to a new school building. The consultation will focus on transferring SEND primary pupils, currently occupying the Langdale Centre in Wallsend, to Forest Hall Primary School once it becomes empty in September.
Background of the Move
The primary pupils are part of Silverdale School, which previously used space at Grasmere Academy in Killingworth until structural concerns affecting a number of schools were discovered in March 2024. Those issues prompted the pupils to move to the Langdale Centre. Forest Hall Primary School was one of several selected for closure or merger in the council's highly controversial Education Review in October last year.
Consultation Details
Parents, staff, and the wider community will be invited to have their say on the transfer. The informal pre-publication consultation is scheduled during the Autumn term of 2026/27.
Cabinet member for education, employability and skills, Councillor Tracy Hallway, said: "Silverdale plays a vital role in supporting children with social, emotional, and mental health needs, but the school is currently operating with significant challenges. It was judged inadequate at its most recent Ofsted inspection and demand for specialist places continues to rise. The accommodation at the centre is fragmented, ageing, and not designed for SEND provision. These issues affect the quality of education and the long term sustainability of the school."
Related School Changes
In January 2026, the cabinet decided to close nearby Ivy Road Primary School and merge it with Forest Hall Primary. The Ivy Road site would then be used to accommodate the former Forest Hall pupils. This formed part of a larger controversial shake-up of education in North Tyneside, where a number of schools were proposed for closure or merger last October.
