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Parents in Whitley Bay have raised more than £7,000 to support a possible legal challenge against plans to close and merge Langley First School.

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00:00Parents in Whitley Bay have raised more than £7,000 to support a possible legal challenge against plans to close and merge Langley First School.
00:09The fundraiser, launched by Local Group Friends of Langley, has so far received £7,458 in donations via GoFundMe.
00:18It comes amid North Tyneside Council's consultation on a major restriction of the borough's education system,
00:24which could see six first and primary schools closed or merged, along with the closure of Monk Seton Middle School.
00:31Under the proposals, pupils from Langley would move to nearby Appletree Gardens First School,
00:37while the Langley site would be handed over to Woodlawn Special School.
00:41The council says the changes are in response to failing birth rates, with around 300 favour births a year in the area since 2018,
00:48and the need to secure the long-term financial viability of local schools.
00:54Although both Langley and Appletree currently run at a surplus, projections suggest both could enter deficits within the next few years.
01:02The first stage of the consultation runs until November, with a favour round expected before a final decision is made in January 2026.
01:12However, no decisions have yet been taken.
01:15Friends of Langley say any money not used for legal purposes will be redirected to benefit pupils at the school,
01:21should the merger no longer go ahead.
01:23Campaigners argue that not enough evidence has been provided to justify the closure,
01:29and are urging the council to consider alternative solutions.
01:33Meanwhile, the council says it understands the strength of community feeling,
01:37but insists change is necessary to create a sustainable school system in the borough.
01:42above the council's
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