Blow as merger plan backed

Campaigners battling to save a Shropshire village school have been dealt a further blow after governors at the primary they could amalgamate with spoke of their support for the move.It is the second blow in just a few days for Oakland Primary School campaigners, after Bayston Hill Parish Council dropped a bombshell that it felt their village was not big enough for two schools.

Now Longmeadow Primary School governors, the school Oaklands could amalgamate with, have issued a statement outlining their view on the move.

The two schools are being considered for amalgamation by Shropshire County Council, which is consulting on the possible amalgamation of 16 schools across the county

Parents and governors at Oakland have warned that, for their school, an amalgamation would effectively mean its closure.

Now Longmeadow Primary School has released a statement about its views.

It said staff and governors had tried to consider what might be possible with a new school serving the whole of Bayston Hill.

It has detailed possible future developments including a language lab, rehearsal and performance facilities arts, an IT and media centre and sporting facilities. It says the county council says "significant" Government capital funding would be available to assist mergers.

Terry Seston, chairman of governors at Longmeadow, said: "By bringing together pupils and staff of the two schools we have the opportunity to grasp the available funding and realise this vision for the future education of our children in a new school with a new name and a new governing body."

A document outlining the views has been sent to parents, who are encouraged to comment on them, while governors say they are hoping to discuss them with Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski.

John Hitchings, vice-chairman of governors and chairman of Shropshire School Governors Council, said: "The realisation is beginning to dawn on all Shropshire schools that falling pupil numbers will affect all schools eventually and we need to act now. We need to stop looking back and look to where we need to be in 2050."