Consultation over school closure

Parents and staff are being consulted over plans to close a failing primary school on Tyneside next year.

Montagu Community Full Service School in Cowgate, Newcastle, has been in special measure after failing an Ofsted inspection in 2005.

Three follow-up inspections have found improvements to be "inadequate".

Newcastle City Council wants to shut the school in Moor View Crescent and move the pupils to other schools. It is asking parents for their views.

One mile

Catherine Fitt, executive director of children's services at the council, said: "Children at the school are entitled to a good education.

"In the current circumstances it is only right that we look at the possibility of closing the school and moving the children to neighbouring schools.

"The results of the fourth monitoring visit will be published shortly, however, the initial feedback from Ofsted has not resulted in any change to the council's plans to consult over possible closure."

If the closure goes ahead pupils at the school would move to schools within one mile of Montagu School, the council said.

Teaching and support staff would also be helped to find alternative posts in other schools in the city and other staff, such as cleaners and cooks, would be redeployed elsewhere, the council also said.

The consultation will take place during July and will be reported back to Executive in September.