Parents' anger after second bid to close school

Parents have spoken of their frustrations as another consultation has opened over a potential closure of a school.

North Tyneside Council agreed to start a consultation on plans to close Hazlewood Primary School in Wideopen after bosses said there was no viable way to rebuild the site which was in need of major repairs.

After the meeting on Monday, one father said there was "no accountability" while a mother said "it was a community, we're putting our foot down", with another mother saying children would remember "primary school as years of consultation".

The council said no decision had been made to close the school, with the consultation allowing everyone to share their views.

Families celebrated earlier this year when the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) blocked a plan to close Hazlewood and merge it with nearby Greenfields Primary School.

However, it did warn at the time the school could not continue indefinitely due to an "absence of certainty" regarding funds to replace its buildings.

Pupils are currently learning in modular classrooms due to structural concerns in the school's main building, linked to weak and brittle concrete.

On Monday, councillors unanimously agreed to open another consultation to close the school.

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.

"The headteacher is the best headteacher anyone could ask for. I would have loved to have him as my headteacher."

And Leah Wilkie said: "It's a community. We're putting our foot down."

Speaking to people at the meeting, councillor Tracy Hallway said she understood "Hazlewood is your school, it is where you have made memories".

Rebecca Wall, director of children's services at North Tyneside Council said the consultation would give everyone "the opportunity to review information and share their views before any future decision is taken".

If approved, the school would close in 2028.

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