Education in your hands

Consultation meetings on the future of Shropshire schools are continuing, with parents being asked for their ideas.

At a meeting of Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on 15 February, the consultation on the proposals was approved. This will last for six term-time weeks, in accordance with Government guidelines.

As part of this consultation parents and the wider school communities are being asked for their solutions to the problems that these schools are facing.

Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said:

“We want to listen to people’s views about these proposals and that’s why we are launching a six-week consultation. I am really keen to hear some alternative and viable long-term solutions to the issues that we are facing.

“I want to stress that these proposals are not simply about closing schools, this is about providing solutions for the long term that aim to provide excellent education for years to come. No decisions have been made on the future of these schools, but I must make it clear that no change is not an option. We need to address issues such as falling pupil numbers, decreasing funding and the recruitment and retention of high-quality staff.

“I encourage everyone to get involved and let us have their views and ideas about these proposals; they can email, write, or attend one of the public consultation meetings that have been set up to discuss each proposal.

“We will also be working with a wider group of schools and governing bodies to encourage the work on federations which were put forward in the proposals, and I hope that this work continues to progress well.”

This is the latest round in an extensive process of consultation looking at the future of education in Shropshire.

In recent months consultation has taken place to give schools, their communities and partners the opportunity to look further at the challenges in their local areas and to consider possible solutions. They have discussed a variety of possible ways in which to move towards improved and more efficient education in the county. These area meetings have included chairs of governors, headteachers, diocesan directors of education and elected councillors because they know their own areas and the challenges best.

A series of 11 meetings has been taking place throughout March to discuss each school’s proposals, and there is one date remaining as follows:

• Rhyn Park Secondary School, Wednesday 30 March, at 6.30pm.