Nine Shropshire Schools face the axe

Nine Shropshire schools - including a Shrewsbury secondary - face the axe under new plans revealed today aimed at tackling falling pupil numbers and funding shortages.

Shirehall education chiefs say action is needed to maintain a "sustainable network" of schools. Under the plans 20 more schools could form "federations" - working closely together, sharing resources but retaining independence.

Eight primary schools would close in the summer of 2012 and the Wakeman secondary school in Shrewsbury faces closure in July 2013.

Wakeman pupils would move to Meole Brace School.

The proposals going to Shropshire Council's cabinet next Tuesday are:

• Create an "all through" school at Rhyn Park, St Martins, near Oswestry, for pupils aged three to 16.

• Create a single school in Shawbury by combining Shawbury Primary and St Mary's on the Shawbury Primary site.

• Extend Buntingsdale Infant School, near Market Drayton, into a full primary.

• Close Wakeman School & Arts College, Shrewsbury.

• Reduce overall capacity by closing Barrow, Hopton Wafers, Onny (Onibury), Maesbury, Stiperstones and Lydbury North Primary Schools.

• The proposed federations "strongly recommended" to governing bodies are: Whitchurch Infant and Junior Schools; Norton-in-Hales and Woore Primary Schools; Baschurch, Weston Lullingfields and Myddle Primary Schools; Woodfield Infants and St George's Junior, Shrewsbury; Market Drayton Infant and Junior schools; Newcastle, St George's (Clun), Clunbury and St Mary's (Bucknell) Primary Schools; Ludlow Infant and Junior Schools; Kinlet, Stottesdon and Farlow Primary Schools.

Today, Andy Rayment, chairman of governors at the Wakeman, described the Shropshire Council proposals as a "knee- jerk" reaction to what was a temporary dip in school numbers for the county.

Wakeman headteacher Karen Moore warned that the school would "campaign vehemently" against moves to close it. A report detailing the plans will be presented to the council cabinet next Tuesday.

Aggie Caesar-Homden, cabinet member for children and young people's services at the unitary council, said today: "The report is asking cabinet to agree to consult on the proposals and I want to stress that at this stage no decisions have been made about the future of education in the county."

The cabinet will be asked to approve further consultation on each of the potential changes. The consultation period will be six weeks.

David Taylor, the authority's corporate director for people's services, said alternative proposals could emerge during this process and they would be seriously considered.

A final decision will be made in July.

The report says the council has lost £10 million in grant funding over the last five years because of falling pupil numbers. In January last year there were 36,888 pupils registered in Shropshire primary and secondary schools, which is 2,560 fewer than in 2005.

Numbers are forecast to drop to 34,860 by 2014.

The report also contains a pledge that money saved will be ploughed back into schools.

By Education Correspondent Dave Morris