Cabinet listens to views on education proposals

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet today (Wednesday 4 May 2011) agreed to move to the next round of consultation on proposals to change the current structure of schools in the county.

Details of the recent six week consultation on proposed changes to education in Shropshire were discussed and the next steps in the current organisation of schools were approved by councillors. A statutory consultation period will now start on 16 May 2011.

The Cabinet has agreed to move forward with the proposals to close six schools, extend the age range of Buntingsdale Infant School and defer decisions on three proposals.

This next round of statutory consultation follows a six week ‘formative’ consultation on 10 proposals to merge, close and expand the age range of schools in the county.  During this consultation schools, parents, governors, pupils, the diocese, town and parish councils and wider communities, were given the opportunity to come up with viable alternative solutions to the proposals.

During this time Lydbury North Primary School and Onny Primary School put forward a proposal to federate and they are now given until 21 June to allow further development of the business plan. The decision to create an all-through school for Rhyn Park Secondary School and Ifton Heath Primary School has also been deferred to examine the proposal and viable and sustainable alternatives further. 

The proposal to create a single primary school for Shawbury was also today agreed to proceed to the next stage of consultation. However Cabinet agreed to amend the proposal, as recommended, so that the school uses both sites for a limited period in the first instance. This will allow for a feasibility study to be undertaken and further discussion with the local community about which is the better site for the expanded school.

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

“We have made it very clear from the start of the consultation that we needed to hear long term, viable solutions to the problems our schools are facing – where we have received alternatives we have listened and have been able to change the proposals. For example Onny and Lydbury North schools came forward with an alternative proposal of federation, we have listened to this and have given them the opportunity to move this forward.

“The well-being of our pupils is at the heart of why, for the last 12 months we have been busy talking to schools and their communities to look at the future of education in Shropshire. Not one of us came into politics to close schools, if further alternative viable solutions are brought forward we are still listening, but it is my job to ensure that we can provide fair, excellent education to all children in Shropshire.”