Some Tyneside schools could close under council plans

Jun 3 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

AT least one secondary school could close on Tyneside under plans to cut surplus places.

Gateshead Council’s Cabinet have agreed to go ahead with a public consultation to review secondary education in the west of the borough, focussing specifically on the future of Hookergate School, in High Spen, and Ryton Comprehensive, in Main Road, Ryton.

The consultation follows several years of dwindling numbers of pupils and a prediction that the borough will have 1,500 fewer secondary-age children by 2016.

Despite Cabinet assurances that the review has only just begun, it is likely Hookergate School will close, but the closure of both schools is a possibility also under scrutiny.

Gateshead Council wants to consult the public on three options, starting with closing Hookergate and transferring existing pupils to Ryton School. The council would then seek funding for a new state-of-the-art school to replace Ryton on a new site in the Greenside area. The second option would see both schools shutting and the opening of a new secondary school. All pupils would initially stay on the Ryton site before moving to a new site in Greenside.

The last proposal is to close Hookergate School, transfer existing pupils to Ryton School and then seek cash to rebuild or refurbish the Ryton school on its existing site.

The council say they are also keen to hear other suggestions from parents and teachers.

Stephanie Howarth, the headteacher at Ryton Comprehensive, who is due to retire this summer, opposes the option of closing her school.

She said: “We cannot accept that the best way forward is to close a very successful and over-subscribed school, which is held in high regard by its community in order to achieve a reduction in surplus pupil places in Gateshead.”

The council has not revealed a timescale for the proposals, but it is expected to be a long-term plan, with the initial consultation taking place over the next two months.

Parents can see the Cabinet report in full from yesterday’s meeting by logging on to www.gateshead.gov.uk