Pupils continue eating in tent after school closure

Students at Hazlewood Primary School in North Tyneside are still eating meals under a tent, over a year after dangerous concrete was found in their school. The issues with the concrete in the ceilings were discovered in February 2024. Since then, students have had their lessons in temporary classrooms, while meals are prepared offsite and served in a marquee. Parents express frustration at the situation. Jo Lowry, a mother of two at the school, said they feel "extremely let down" by the council. "We feel like we've had to fight for everything," she added, highlighting that children should not still be eating in a tent after so long. North Tyneside Council has started work to make the dining hall safe again and has already spent over £2 million on repairs. However, the council warns that the current solutions are temporary. The Department for Education (DfE) is involved, stating they are working closely with the council on next steps. Rob Mathieson, chair of the school's Parent-Teacher Association, criticized the DfE for not addressing the issue more actively. He urged both the council and the DfE to develop a long-term plan for the school. The council is also addressing similar concrete problems in two other local schools.