North Tyneside Council is set to launch a consultation on the potential relocation of special educational needs (SEND) pupils from Silverdale Primary School's Langdale Centre to the soon-to-be-vacant Forest Hall Primary site. The council's cabinet is expected to approve the consultation at its meeting on 27 July 2026, seeking views from parents, school staff, and other stakeholders.
Background of the Proposed Move
Currently, Silverdale School's SEND pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 are based at the Langdale Centre in Wallsend, a former middle school built in the 1950s. According to council papers, the building was not designed for special needs education and requires significant capital investment to remain fit for purpose, limiting its long-term suitability. The rest of Silverdale School operates from its main site on Langdale Gardens, Wallsend.
The proposed relocation is part of the council's controversial 'Education Review', which involves closing and merging several schools. Under the review, Ivy Road Primary will merge with Forest Hall Primary and move to the Ivy Road site, leaving the Forest Hall site vacant from 1 September 2026. This vacancy creates an opportunity to house SEND education there.
Declining Pupil Numbers
The merger of Forest Hall and Ivy Road schools was announced in October 2025 as part of wider local education changes. Council statistics show surplus places at both schools stand at around 35-37%. Forest Hall has seen a drop in pupil numbers from 181 in 2016/17 to 143 by October 2025. Ivy Road's pupil numbers are projected to fall to just 92 by 2034/35. Additionally, North Tyneside is experiencing around 300 fewer births per year, a trend monitored since 2018/19.
A council report states: “The Langdale Centre is a former middle school dating from the 1950’s. While it has been adapted for current use, it was not designed for special needs education provision and requires significant capital investment to remain fit for purpose. This limits its suitability as a long-term base for pupils with SEND.”
Next Steps
If the consultation is approved, it is expected to begin in the Autumn Term of 2026/27. No final decision has been made at this stage. The council is seeking input from all those directly involved before proceeding further.
