The children will have to transfer to new nursery schools

Councillors in Sunderland decided on Wednesday afternoon to close Usworth Comprehensive School, in Washington, along with Cork Street Nursery in Sunderland.

But Oxclose Nursery, in Washington, has won an indefinite reprieve.

Education bosses said the closures were needed as part of a wide-ranging review of services.

Nursery 'review'

Cork Street Nursery, in Sunderland is to close as part of a review of nursery place provision.

Usworth Comprehensive faces the axe because of the need to cut thousands of surplus school places.

But Oxclose Nursery will not close, however councillors said they may review the situation in the future.

Beverley Scanlon, from the Sunderland Local Education Authority, said talks would be held about the future of the children's education.

Parents' petition

She said: "There is further consultation to be had with parents, particularly among the primary schools cluster about where children will go once Usworth is not there any more.

"We also need to talk to the schools about how we phase the transition of pupils who are currently in school."

Parents and teaching staff had urged Sunderland city education chiefs to halt the closures.

But the authority says it must act to save cash and improve services for pupils.

Usworth comprehensive currently has 42% of its desks empty.

Sunderland City Council has now decided to close the site, despite a prolonged campaign to keep it open, which attracted a 7,500-name petition.

The school's 600 pupils will have to travel either to Washington Comprehensive School or Oxclose school, several miles away.