1,000 signatures reached
To: To North Tyneside Council and elected Mayor Karen Clark
SAVE LANGLEY FIRST SCHOOL
To: The Elected Mayor and Cabinet of North Tyneside Council
We, the undersigned, call on North Tyneside Council to reject the proposal to merge Langley First School with Appletree Gardens First School.
This plan would mean the closure of Langley First’s site and the loss of a much-loved school that sits at the heart of our community. We believe this is not a viable alternative for our children, for the following reasons:
1. Disruption to children’s education
Moving our children from a safe, familiar environment into another setting will cause unnecessary stress and disruption. Stability is essential for young learners, and merging schools does not prioritise their wellbeing.
2. Loss of a thriving school community
Langley First School has a strong identity and supportive, close-knit community. Closing the site risks breaking up friendships, severing links with families, and damaging a school culture that has been built over many years.
3. Appletree Gardens cannot accommodate all Langley pupils
The council’s own figures show that Langley has only 10% surplus places, which is within the acceptable range they themselves set. Appletree Gardens, however, has a much higher 25% surplus – but this equates to only around 15 spaces per year group. This is not enough to take in all of Langley’s children, meaning families will face uncertainty, displacement, and potentially longer journeys to schools further away.
4. Failure to exhaust alternatives
Other options have not been fully explored — such as repurposing surplus classrooms for nursery provision, wraparound care, or wider community use. The council also suggests using the Langley site for Woodlawn SEN provision, but this would remove mainstream provision for local children without ensuring that SEN funding or support is guaranteed.
5. Impact on families
Closing Langley First would lengthen journeys for many families, making school runs harder, reducing accessibility, and creating additional pressure on working parents.
Our request
We urge the Elected Mayor and Cabinet of North Tyneside Council to:
- Reject the proposal to merge Langley First with Appletree Gardens First.
- Protect Langley First School’s site and identity as a thriving community school.
- Work with governors, parents, and staff to find creative, sustainable alternatives that support children without causing unnecessary upheaval.
Langley First School is not just a building — it is a vital part of our children’s lives and our community. Closing it would cause harm that cannot be undone.
This is not about the closure of a school - it would be the loss of a community.
This is not about the closure of a school - it would be the loss of a community.
Why is this important?
This petition is not just about Langley First School - it is about protecting children, families, and communities across North Tyneside. By signing, you are:
- Standing up for children’s wellbeing – school closures and mergers cause unnecessary stress and disruption for young children.
- Protecting community schools – schools like Langley are at the heart of neighbourhood life, and losing them damages the whole community.
- Challenging unfair decisions – Langley only has around 10% surplus places, which the council itself says is acceptable. Closing it sets a dangerous precedent for other schools.
- Demanding better alternatives – the council has not fully explored other options, such as using spare classrooms for community or nursery provision.
- Holding the council accountable – strong public opposition shows local leaders that children’s education should come before short-term financial cuts.
By signing this petition, you add your voice to a growing community that believes every child deserves stability, every family deserves choice, and every community deserves its school.
