Primary school consultation decision

Shropshire County Council Cabinet makes decision on primary schools consultation.

Shropshire County Council Cabinet members have voted to consult on the proposed amalgamation of 16 schools (listed below) but not to proceed to consultation on the proposed closure of 22 schools (listed below).

Councillors heard a presentation at today’s (Wednesday 30 January) Cabinet meeting from Liz Nicholson, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, describing the implications of falling pupil numbers in Shropshire. She told the meeting about the financial consequences facing schools, and the impact on the educational provision for all children in the county. Councillors heard that if nothing was done, budgets would be cut by an average of £20,000 per school between 2009 and 2011, which would result in reductions in teacher numbers in all primary schools.

Cabinet members heard contributions from a large number of members of the public, including school governors, parents, and local county councillors. Following their deliberations, Cabinet agreed to commission consultations on the proposed amalgamations of 16 schools and not to proceed to consultation on the 22 proposed closures. Instead, Cabinet will give full consideration to the outcome from an all-party delegation due to meet Schools Minister Jim Knight later today (Wednesday 30 January), and further analysis will be carried out on the information received from schools and communities over recent days. Further discussions and structured debate will also take place with schools and key education stakeholders.

Councillor Ann Hartley said: “My Cabinet colleagues and I are well aware of the huge challenge we face if we are to continue providing high quality education for all Shropshire children while pupil numbers continue to fall. Our decision today will enable us to take action by consulting on the merging of some schools, while continuing to discuss and consider potential ways forward with schools and stakeholders.”

Consultation will now take place into the proposed amalgamations of the following schools:

Ashford Carbonell and Caynham
Lydbury North and Clunbury
Oakland and Longmeadow (Bayston Hill)
Mount Pleasant Infant and Junior Schools (Shrewsbury)
Grange Infant and Junior Schools (Shrewsbury)
Meole Brace Infant and Junior Schools (Shrewsbury)
Springfield Infants and Holy Cross Junior Schools (Shrewsbury)
Oswestry Infants and Beech Grove Juniors

Consultation will not take place into the proposed closure of the following schools:

Adderley
Barrow
Beckbury
Buildwas
Cheswardine
Church Preen
Dorrington
Farlow
Hope
Hopton Wafers
Kinlet
Maesbury
Moreton Say
Morville
Myddle
Nesscliffe St Andrews
Onny
Rushbury
Selattyn
Tilstock
Welshampton
Weston Lullingfields

30 January 2008