A song for Stiperstones Primary School

Youngsters at the closure-threatened Stiperstones Primary School have recorded a song in a bid to help save it from the axe.

Seamus O' Boyle, 12, a former pupil of the school near Shrewsbury, has created the song called Don't Go Stiperstones after hearing it was on a hit-list of nine schools set for the axe by Shropshire Council.

And the 29 children who attend the school have added their voice to the track in an attempt to appeal to decision makers and the whole of Shropshire to keep it open.

Headteacher Sue Cooke said it was hoped the song, which will be recorded as an MP3 file, will be played on the radio, with a video also set to be created to go on YouTube.

Ms Cooke said: "We recorded the music track and main vocals on Wednesday and the children are adding their bit to it today.

"We want to make people aware of the feeling in the village for keeping this school. We want people to think and say how innovative we are and how everyone feels strongly about the closure."

Ms Cooke said Seamus, who now attends Mary Webb School at Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury, wrote the song because he was so concerned about the plans to close it.

Parents launched a campaign group to fight plans to close the school this week.

About 50 teachers, parents and governors held a meeting at the school on Tuesday night when a battle plan was discussed.

Under proposals by Shropshire Council, eight primary schools are earmarked for closure in the summer of 2012 with the Wakeman secondary in Shrewsbury due to close in July 2013.