(UK) Gateshead: Plans to convert ex-elem school to special school for 180

May 28, 2025, Hexham Courant: Plans to convert ex-primary school into SEN school in Gateshead

NE England

Plans to help convert a former primary school in Gateshead into a special educational needs (SEN) school have been submitted to the local authority. 

The Cedars Trust, an academy organisation which specialises in educating children with special needs, has applied for permission to expand the car park to the former Colgate Primary School in Felling. In February this year, Gateshead Council made the decision to transfer the Colgate Primary School building to the Trust to increase local SEN school places. 

It is hoped the conversion of the site will allow for primary education for up to 180 SEN kids by September this year. The application states: “As such, it is proposed to provide a new ‘car park’ area for the school, primarily to be used to facilitate the pick-up and drop-off of children arriving in home-to-school transport, arranged by Gateshead Council, and those transported by parents / carers.” . . .

This comes after the local authority reached the decision to close the school in September last year. Colegate Primary had been dubbed the council’s “most vulnerable school” in official documents, with a projected financial deficit of over £500,000 by 2025/26. 

Academic results, particularly Key Stage 2 reading, writing, and mathematics were found to be below the national averages, alongside historically low pupil numbers. At the time of publication, no decision has been reached on the application.