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Schools wait to hear their fate
HUNDREDS of anxious parents have taken part in talks over the future of their children's schools.
Up to 600 worried mums and dads attended meetings about the possible closure or amalgamation of several primary schools across Sunderland.
Scores of teachers and dozens of governors also had consultation meetings with members of Sunderland City Council's children's services.
The School Place Planning consultation, which ended last week, is being carried out to tackle the massive number of surplus places in the city's schools.
Several options have been put forward and up to five primary schools and two nurseries could be facing closure.
Now, the schools under discussion face a nail-biting wait for the authority to come up with final proposals, which are expected to go before the cabinet in February.
Once the final proposals have been drawn up there will be a second round of consultations with parents, teachers and governors before a decision is made in April.
At the moment 48 of the 83 primary schools are operating with gaps in their roll above the Government's recommended 10 per cent.
And 17 have more than 25 per cent surplus places in their school, the cut-off amount in which the Government demands action.
Education bosses predict this number will rise significantly if nothing is done to tackle the issue.
The five cluster areas where changes are being concentrated under School Place Planning for the Future are Hylton Red House, Castle View, Monkwearmouth, Houghton Kepier and Hetton.
And, the primary schools in the firing line are Eppleton Primary, Hetton Primary, Hetton Nursery, Hylton Red House Primary, Willow Fields Community Primary, Hylton Red House Nursery, Bexhill Primary, Town End Primary, Grange Park Primary, Gillas Lane Primary and Bernard Gilpin Primary Schools.
Lynda Brown, the authority's head of standards for Children's Services, said although parents are bound to be concerned, the authority will only make changes which will improve education in the city both now and for future youngsters.
School Place Planning for the Future aims to make sure there are enough school places in the right areas, make sure there are enough places for every child of every ability and to make sure as many of the city's primary schools as possible meet 21st century teaching needs.
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Weather for Sunderland
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
