Save Our Schools

The proposed merger of Hazlewood Primary School and Greenfields Primary School in North Tyneside is part of a larger plan by the local council to address falling pupil numbers and building issues in the area. The merged school would operate on the Greenfields Primary site.

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Key Reasons for the Proposed Merger

The proposal to merge the two schools is driven by a combination of factors:

• Falling Pupil Numbers and Surplus Places: North Tyneside has seen a steady decline in birth rates, leading to too many school places for the number of children. Both Hazlewood and Greenfields currently have surplus places, a number that is projected to increase.
  • Greenfields Primary has a capacity of 525 pupils but only 206 currently attend (operating at about 39% capacity).
  • Hazlewood Primary has a capacity of 308 pupils with 256 children on the books, but its number of vacant places is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
• Hazlewood’s Building Condition: A major factor is the need for a rebuild at Hazlewood Primary due to structural problems, including the presence of weak and brittle concrete. The estimated cost to rebuild is around £7 million, and despite lobbying, the council has not secured long-term funding from the government.
• Sustainability and Capacity: The council argues that the changes are essential to ensure the school system remains financially sustainable. The Greenfields Primary site is considered the better location as it has a larger capacity (designed for “2.5 form entry”) and the physical space to comfortably accommodate all pupils from Hazlewood.

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Merger Plan and Timeline

The plan involves closing the buildings of Hazlewood Primary School and moving the combined school to the Greenfields site.

Key Stage	Date	Event
Consultation	October 2, 2025 – November 13, 2025	Pre-publication public consultation period.
Statutory Notice	Late November – Late December 2025	Statutory Public Notice and Representation Period (if the proposal moves forward).
Decision	January 2026	Final decision-making by North Tyneside Council Cabinet.
Implementation	September 2026	If approved, Hazlewood Primary School would stop admitting new Reception pupils.
Full Merger	September 2027	Proposed date for the full merger and implementation of changes.

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The merger of Hazlewood Primary School and Greenfields Primary School is considered “profoundly wrong” by many parents and community members primarily due to concerns about its impact on children’s well-being and education, the loss of a strong community asset, and the belief that the council is prioritizing financial and structural issues over pupils’ needs.

The North Tyneside Council’s proposal to merge the schools is driven by falling pupil numbers across the borough, which leads to budget deficits for schools, and the structural issues with the Hazlewood Primary building that require an estimated £7 million to rebuild—funding the council has been unable to secure from the government. The plan is for Hazlewood to close and for all pupils to move to the Greenfields site.

Here are the key arguments against the merger:

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Negative Impact on Pupils

• Emotional Trauma and Upheaval: The students at Hazlewood have already faced significant disruption due to the structural issues in their building (a different issue from RAAC), which forced them to use temporary modular classrooms and marquees. Parents argue the merger will cause further, unnecessary upheaval and emotional distress, splitting them from their established school community and friends.
• Larger Class Sizes: A significant concern is that combining the two student bodies on the Greenfields site will lead to larger class sizes. Parents worry this will mean less individual attention per student and a potential drop in the quality of education.
• Effect on Vulnerable Students (SEND): Parents have raised fears that the substantial change and potentially larger class sizes could negatively affect the learning and support environment for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), who are currently well-supported in the Hazlewood setting.

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Loss of Community and Choice

• Loss of School Identity and Spirit: Hazlewood is described as having an “incredible community spirit” and a strong, supportive ethos. Parents who specifically chose Hazlewood for their children feel they are being “forced” to accept Greenfields, which they did not choose. The closure of the Hazlewood site is viewed as the demolition of a key community pillar.
• Erosion of Trust: Some parents have expressed strong disappointment in the council, stating they feel there is a “lack of answers” and that the decision is “about money and numbers and not about the kids.” The decision to close the school after the council invested in temporary fixes (like modular classrooms) while lobbying for a rebuild has also led to questions and disappointment.

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Financial and Administrative Concerns

• Focus on Cost Over Education: Critics believe the council’s motivation is primarily financial—to eliminate the running costs of a half-empty school and avoid the £7 million rebuild cost for Hazlewood’s structurally compromised building. They feel the financial viability of the school system is being prioritized over maintaining successful, smaller school environments.
• Alternatives Not Fully Explored: Parents argue that closing a school should be a “last resort” and they are not satisfied the council has provided enough evidence to show that alternative, less disruptive solutions have been fully investigated before proposing the merger.

In response, the council maintains that the action is “essential to ensure our school system remains sustainable” given the falling birth rates and the financial pressures on schools. However, the strong community backlash, including a petition that quickly gained over 1,000 signatures, highlights the intense opposition and belief that the merger is the wrong solution for the children and their community.

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