Plan for eight schools in mergers

Shropshire education chiefs today unveiled their vision for the creation of eight new primary schools across the county.The move is aimed at tackling falling pupil numbers and would see the merger of 16 schools. At a crunch meeting next week, the county council cabinet will have to decide whether to formally proceed with the plans.

It will then begin more consultations.

The whole of Wednesday has been put aside to consider the issue, giving councillors time to look at each particular plan and hear from school representatives.

The cabinet will be asked to decide whether to formally proceed to:

• Close Longmeadow and Oakland schools (Bayston Hill) and invite the Diocese of Lichfield to publish proposals to open a new 420-place voluntary controlled school.

• Close Ashford Carbonell and Caynham school nears Ludlow and invite the Diocese of Hereford to open a new 90-place foundation school with a Church of England character.

• Close Clunbury and Lydbury North school near Bishop's Castle and invite the Diocese of Hereford to publish proposals to open a new 120-place foundation school with religious character.

• Close Beech Grove Junior and Oswestry Infant schools and invite the Diocese of Lichfield to publish proposals to open a new voluntary controlled school with 360 places.

• Close Holy Cross Junior and and Springfield Infant schools (Shrewsbury) and invite the Diocese of Lichfield to publish proposals to open a new voluntary controlled Church of England school with 360 places.

• Close Mount Pleasant Junior and Infant schools (Shrewsbury) to open a new community school for 240 pupils.

• Close Grange Junior and Infant schools (Shrewsbury) to open a new community school for 420 pupils.

• Close Meole Brace Junior and Infant schools and ask the Diocese of Lichfield to issue proposals to open a new voluntary controlled school for 360 pupils.

Liz Nicholson, the council's corporate director for children and young people's services, said today: "This is an opportunity to enhance the quality of education for children."

But there has already been strong opposition to the move at schools such as Oakland and Lydbury North.

By Education Correspondent Dave Morris