Background
After working with schools and their communities to look at the future of education in Shropshire for more than a year, the council’s Cabinet met on 20 July, 7 September and 28 September 2011 to decide whether to proceed with proposed changes to the organisation of schools in the county.
Decisions
20 July 2011 Cabinet meeting
At this meeting Cabinet agreed, in line with the recommendations, to proceed to close Barrow, Hopton Wafers and Maesbury primary schools, and to extend the age range of Buntingsdale Infant School.
It was also agreed to create a single primary school for Shawbury, with further work taking place with Shawbury Primary and St Mary’s Primary to decide on the site of the consolidated school.
Cabinet decided not to close Stiperstones Primary School, as proposed at an earlier stage, but to give the school the opportunity to progress a proposal to federate with Chirbury Primary School.
As part of the consideration of proposals deferred at a meeting on 4 May, councillors approved a recommendation to move to statutory consultation on proposals for St Martins to close Ifton Heath Primary School, and extend the age range of Rhyn Park School and Performing Arts College to include the primary age range. This had been deferred for further discussion and work to be carried out, including looking at the details of how an all-through school would work.
Cabinet also agreed not to proceed to statutory consultation on proposals to close Onny and Lydbury North primary schools, but to give them the opportunity to progress their proposal for federation.
7 September 2011 Cabinet meeting
Cabinet agreed to close Wakeman School and Arts College in Shrewsbury, and to offer pupils a place at Meole Brace School Science College in Shrewsbury.
28 September 2011 Cabinet meeting
Cabinet discussed the proposal to create an all-through school in St Martins. Cabinet agreed to extend the age range of Rhyn Park School and Performing Arts College, and close Ifton Heath Primary School, offering pupils a place at the extended school.
Further developments
Wakeman
Schools adjudicator, Canon Richard Lindley, on 28 November 2011, announced his support for Shropshire Council’s decision to close the Wakeman School and Arts College in Shrewsbury, after considering representations from the school, diocese and council.
Shawbury
A joint strategic committee was formed consisting of governor representatives from both St Mary’s CE Primary School and Shawbury Primary School, with representatives from Shropshire Council, to decide on the site and plan ahead for the extended primary school in Shawbury from 2012. A feasibility study was carried out by the council to help the committee determine which of the two sites would be most suitable, before the current Shawbury Primary School site was chosen as their preferred site for the extended school.
Next steps
Barrow, Hopton Wafers, Maesbury, Shawbury and Ifton Heath primary schools closed in August 2012.
Wakeman School and Arts College will close in August 2013.
Need to know more?
To view the proposals, use the links provided to access the Cabinet papers.
For further background information go to the 'Shropshire's Independent Policy Commission' link, and further links on this page.