South Shields School students offered prom by council if larger gatherings allowed

Year 11 students at South Shields School on Nevison Avenue were devastated to receive the news that their end-of-school prom had been cancelled because of the coroanvirus pandemic.

Due to be held on June 26 at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle, the event would have been a chance for students to say their final goodbyes to friends and staff.

And this year’s prom would have been particularly poignant, as South Shields School will close for good on August 31, 2020 following a decision made by South Tyneside Council.

The school has faced years of uncertainty being rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted and failing to win an academy sponsor.

In a letter sent out to parents and pupils on Tuesday, June 2, staff said they would be unable to rearrange the prom for a later date as staff would no longer be employed by the council and “cannot be responsible for the organisation of such an event”.

But now the council has agreed that once larger gatherings are allowed, they will contact the school’s ex-students and, if there is sufficient interest, will organise a prom for them.

It is understood that Hedworth Hall in the town has already been offered as a venue for the big event.

The council has stressed that it is not possible at this stage to know when large-scale gatherings will be allowed to be held due to the restrictions around social distancing.

Whiteleas Councillor Ernest Gibson, said: “It seemed such a shame for these students not to have an opportunity to say their goodbyes, especially as many are moving to different schools away from their friends.

“We appreciate it has been a difficult two years for them in the run-up to the school closing so we felt it was unfair to rob them of their prom as well.

“A lot of parents had also spent a lot of money on outfits for the big event.

“We have listened to the concerns of these young people and their families and feel it is only right that we step in to help.”

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