Call for inclusion of sports centre as two-tier system agreed
Northumberland County Council has approved plans to switch Amble’s schools to a two-tier system, and see the middle school become a hub for young people with special needs and disabilities.
Cllr Jeff Watson has called for a sports centre to be part of the improvements project
A complete new build school for JCSC is also promised, as part of a £36m package of improvements for local schools.
But a call has been made to include more community provision such as a community hall and a sports centre in the project.
At the September NCC Cabinet meeting, Councillor Jeff Watson said “There are absolutely no facilities in the town, that is the size of Amble, which is almost the size of Alnwick, which are done by the county council.
The Amble middle school will become a hub for young people with special needs
“There is no community hall, there are no facilities, there’s a library but everybody’s got a library, there is nothing. This is an opportunity to make sure that the sports and recreation element of the schools also co-incides with the needs of the community.”
He added, “I hope we can do this properly so it’s not just a school, its a school with a community centre, sports and recreation area as well, the whole shooting match.”
NCC has already approved a £25.5m investment in schools in the Coquet Partnership, and now plans to increase the spend to £36.6m to include the new project.
A public consultation in June, asked people for their views on moving to a two-tier educational system (primary and secondary) in Amble. 92% of respondents said they believed two-tier would deliver the best outcomes for young people.
James Calvert Spence College will have a completely new building
There was also widespread support for proposals to create 50 new places for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) by building a new satellite site of Barndale House Special School on the current JCSC South Avenue site that would open in September 2024.
A four week statutory consultation will now take place.
In a joint statement, the headteachers of the Coquet Partnership said: “All the schools in the Coquet Partnership are united in their vision to build a thriving educational community where all our children and young people can reach their full potential.”
Anna Williams
sports should be appreciated by the government of Northumberland because this is the medium of joining multiple nations and cultures of the country. government should take necessary steps to implement sports cultures in Northumberland.
Well done to Councillor Jeff Watson on putting forward this proposal. Sports are so important for both physical and mental health. Let’s hope that similar considerations are taken into account when the Duke’s proposals to build a road on The Braid are reviewed by NCC Planning Committee. It was so good to see The Braid being used for the running element of the inaugural Alnwick Triathlon a few weeks ago.
Let’s hope this is successful. We have been trying for a very long time to get facilities for our Children and Adults. I remember years ago talking about, and writing to the council’s asking if this would ever happen in Amble to be told we could travel to Alnwick or Ashington, both bigger Towns. 36 years later, the Children have grown up and have their own Children and still our Grandchildren have no facilities! My Grandson plays for a local Football team. No facilities, the Welfare was supposed to be regenerated when the 1st Persimmon site started. Money given from the 106 agreement for sports and recreation. I know a small proportion went on the drainage on the Welfare pitch but it was left unplayable as the pitch wasn’t relaid. Where is the money used from all of the regeneration? It’s an absolute disgrace that the Town is growing and still we have no facilities! Come to Amble, The Friendliest Port, with no recreational facilities. We, our Children and Grandchildren deserve more! The party that make this happen will get my vote.
Love to see these that Northumberland is doing realistic efforts to upgrade their peoples
That was great decisions for the schools and it will be great initiative for the peoples and children’s.