'Potential sponsor' could save Buildwas school
A closure-threatened school could be one step closer to becoming an academy, it was revealed today.
Nigel Bowen, chairman of Governors for Buildwas Primary School, confirmed a potential academy sponsor planned to submit an application to the Department of Education in the coming weeks.
A decision could be made by October 28, which is when Shropshire Council next decide whether to publish a notice of closure.
Last month, Karen Bradshaw, director of children's services at Shropshire Council, said the two main options were for Buildwas to be sponsored by a successful existing academy or for the school to close.
The authority earmarked Buildwas Primary School for closure after the government's education watchdog put it into special measures following an inspection.
The council also said falling pupil numbers meant the school, near Ironbridge, was no longer viable.
However, the future now looks brighter as Mr Bowen confirmed there were plans for the school to become an academy.
He said: "Our potential Academy sponsor plans to submit their application to the DfE soon. We are hoping to have a decision from the DfE by October 28, which is when Shropshire Council next meet to decide whether to publish a notice of closure."
Parents and staff have refused to let their school go quietly – and more than 750 of them signed a petition calling for the school to be saved.
A group of pupils have even made a song called Save Our School in a bid to prevent the closure.
More than 100 people attended the meeting in Buildwas Village Hall to discuss possible ways of keeping the school open, which was placed into special measures by Ofsted in January.
Mrs Bradshaw said no sponsorship had been available when the idea of closing the school had been first suggested in June.
He said sponsorship would be key factors when looking into its future.
Telford MP Lucy Allan and Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski have also shown their support for the school's future.
If the council decides the school should close, a further six-week consultation will take with a final decision no later than December 9.
