THE future of three special residential school is being reconsidered after plans to close them were rejected by a Government adjudicator.

Education officials in Stockton wanted to close Westlands, Bishopsmill and Saltergill schools and create two new schools.

But the plans were met with opposition by parents concerned at their children been regrouped by age rather than their needs.

The Stockton Schools Organisation Committee - an independent body made up of local authority, head teachers, governors and diocese representatives - also voted not to accept the proposals.

Despite these objections the council asked the Government to sanction the changes but adjudicator Sir Peter Newsam has also rejected the plans.

The schools cater for 200 pupils aged from seven to 16. Stockton Borough Council wanted to open a middle school for seven to 14-year-olds on the Westlands site in Thornaby, and an upper school for older students on the Bishopsmill site.

Sir Newsam decide that although it was a good idea to only have two special schools, they should be arranged differently.

He said: "The way chosen to achieve this would not satisfactorily meet the educational needs of the pupils whose special needs have to be met and would be likely to exacerbate rather than resolve management problems at the schools concerned."

Parents, who were concerned that Westlands, which has been given an excellent grading by Ofsted, was being penalised for its success, have welcomed the news that the merger will not happen. One said: "It is great news. The children love going to the school and we don't want anything to change."

However, Stockton Council has warned that the three schools will not stay as they are and some changes will have to be made to deal with problems such as a fall in pupil numbers.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, cabinet member for education, leisure and cultural services said: "Throughout this consultation exercise it has been made clear that no change would not be an option.

"We shall be preparing fresh proposals in the light of this decision in the very near future.

"As always, our priority is to ensure that we proceed the best educational opportunities for all our pupils, both now and in the future."

Updated 15.20, Thursday, July 12