Monkseaton Middle School has been saved from closure and will expand its year groups in order to secure its future.
Tonight, North Tyneside Council bosses have signed off plans to expand Monkseaton Middle School’s Year Groups from 5-8 to 5-11. The school, much admired by parents and pupils, will introduce Year 9 in 2027, then Years 10 and 11.
It is hoped the phased plan will allow for gradual growth, a balanced Key Stage 4 curriculum, as well as enabling pupils to stay on at the school until 16. The decision was welcomed by those present in the public gallery and met with applause.
Monkseaton Middle School was one of several schools in North Tyneside faced with the prospect of closure in the council’s original plans back in October 2025. The local authority cited low birth rates, surplus places, and the subsequent impacts on school budgets as major contributing factors to the plans which spread throughout North Tyneside.
Public support
The move sparked public outcry, with a petition to save Monkseaton Middle School amassing over 1,200 signatures and over £5,700 raised to help finance a campaign to retain the school, including the prospect of funding a legal challenge. The GoFundMe states any surplus money would be handed over directly to the school.
By November last year, the school was offered the opportunity to find alternative solutions and later present them to the local authority for consideration. A council report into the new proposals published last week stated while the plans didn’t completely resolve the wider pupil number pressures, it would provide a “meaningful contribution” to the issue.
The proposals were recommended for approval. It is also estimated the move would also turn-around the school’s projected deficit of £118k in year one, to a surplus of over £230k by year three.
Headteacher, Kirsty Nichols-Mackay said: “As a school community, we are absolutely delighted by this decision. I want to express my sincere thanks to our families, whose engagement and support throughout this process have been invaluable, and to our Governing Body for their unwavering dedication. I am equally grateful to our exceptional staff, whose commitment to our pupils underpins everything we do.
“Extending our age range allows us to continue meeting the needs of all our young people while strengthening the unique offer that makes Monkseaton Middle so special: a smaller, more personal setting, offering high quality teaching and learning for all children. This change gives families real choice and enables pupils to remain in an inclusive environment right through to age 16.”
Councillor Steven Phillips, cabinet member for education, inclusion, employment and skills, said: “We’re pleased that a positive and sustainable solution has been found for Monkseaton Middle School. The governor‑led proposal keeps the school open, supports parental choice and gives pupils the option to stay in a smaller, inclusive setting through to GCSEs. We’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and helped shape this outcome.”
The school will now begin preparing for the phased introduction of Year 9 and Key Stage 4, with the new age range taking effect from September 2027.
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