Council confirms future of Dryden Centre as school prepares for September start
A Gateshead school is preparing to move into the empty Dryden Centre from September 2025.
Last year, the council officially declared the Dryden Centre surplus to requirements after more than a decade of services being pulled out of the site in Low Fell.
The facility has been gradually emptied since 2012 and has been completely vacant since March 2024.
After discussing options for how the centre could be brought back to use, it was agreed that the Gateshead Cheder Primary School, currently based at Bede House on Sunderland Road, will move into the Dryden Centre ahead on a long-term lease.
The Jewish provision for boys aged between 3 and 16 has over 400 pupils and aims to move into the site after the summer break.
Ward councillors met with council officers and representatives of the school late last year and came to an agreement that the building will be available for hire by community groups in the school's holiday periods, to ensure that shows and events can continue to take place.
The council is also retaining control over the centre's playing fields, which are used by Gateshead Rugby Club and part of which will be used by the Cheder School, and other users in future. As part of the safeguarding requirement informal public access to the playing fields will be stopped.
Councillor Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said: "We are pleased to be welcoming the Cheder School and its pupils to the Dryden Centre, which is at the heart of the Low Fell community and has been for many years.
"Following positive discussions with the school, we are also glad to have agreed a way of continuing to offer community groups across Gateshead space for activities and events during the school's holiday breaks."
Mr Shimon Wallace, Headteacher at the Gateshead Cheder Primary School, said: "Our pupils are looking forward to moving to the larger space at the Dryden Centre from September.
"We have been working closely with the council to progress our move and feel really positive about the new provision. It will not only support our pupils to learn and develop in a new, larger site, but also to feel part of our wider Gateshead communities by being based at a centre which is well known across the borough."
Updates on the site, including access to the Gateshead Rugby Club, will be updated on the council's website.
A Gateshead school is preparing to move into the empty Dryden Centre from September 2025.
Last year, the council officially declared the Dryden Centre surplus to requirements after more than a decade of services being pulled out of the site in Low Fell.
The facility has been gradually emptied since 2012 and has been completely vacant since March 2024.
After discussing options for how the centre could be brought back to use, it was agreed that the Gateshead Cheder Primary School, currently based at Bede House on Sunderland Road, will move into the Dryden Centre ahead on a long-term lease.
The Jewish provision for boys aged between 3 and 16 has over 400 pupils and aims to move into the site after the summer break.
Ward councillors met with council officers and representatives of the school late last year and came to an agreement that the building will be available for hire by community groups in the school's holiday periods, to ensure that shows and events can continue to take place.
The council is also retaining control over the centre's playing fields, which are used by Gateshead Rugby Club and part of which will be used by the Cheder School, and other users in future. As part of the safeguarding requirement informal public access to the playing fields will be stopped.
Councillor Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said: "We are pleased to be welcoming the Cheder School and its pupils to the Dryden Centre, which is at the heart of the Low Fell community and has been for many years.
"Following positive discussions with the school, we are also glad to have agreed a way of continuing to offer community groups across Gateshead space for activities and events during the school's holiday breaks."
Mr Shimon Wallace, Headteacher at the Gateshead Cheder Primary School, said: "Our pupils are looking forward to moving to the larger space at the Dryden Centre from September.
"We have been working closely with the council to progress our move and feel really positive about the new provision. It will not only support our pupils to learn and develop in a new, larger site, but also to feel part of our wider Gateshead communities by being based at a centre which is well known across the borough."
Updates on the site, including access to the Gateshead Rugby Club, will be updated on the council's website.
