Vow to keep Onny School open

Parents and governors at a closure-threatened Shropshire school have vowed to keep it open - even if it means creating an independent free school.

Colin Williams, chairman of governors at Onny Primary School in Onibury, near Craven Arms, said he believed pupils would still be attending the school in September 2012 despite plans by Shropshire Council to close it.

Governors are also exploring alternatives such as becoming a free school or forming a federation with a neighbouring school.

Mr Williams was speaking at a public meeting at the school yesterday, where governors and parents also questioned why Onny was not given the opportunity to form a federation.

The Onny Action Group has also been set up by parents to fight the plans, and members plan to join parents from schools across the county protesting against the plans before Shropshire Council's cabinet meeting at Shirehall on Tuesday.

Onny is one of nine across the county earmarked for closure by Shirehall chiefs. Eight primary schools are due to close in the summer of 2012 while The Wakeman School in Shrewsbury is due to close in July 2013.

Other proposals include creating an "all through" school at Rhyn Park in St Martins, near Oswestry, and 20 federations, whereby schools will work together and share resources but retain independence.

Free schools are independent of local authority control and can opt to teach lessons outside the National Curriculum.

Yesterday Mr Williams said people had been asking him where the children would go in September 2012.

He said: "As far as we're concerned, they will be at Onny CE School. We are not prepared to think at this stage that this won't happen. Go and spread the news of what we've been saying. This is not the end."

Ann Morgan, chairman of finance for the governors, said the free school plan was something they were looking into, although parent Pat Giles suggested it could lead to Shropshire Council deciding to close the school as they were investigating it.

Villager Tim Walker, who spoke in the school's defence when it faced the axe in 2008, said: "What shook the committee was the sheer people power."

By Hannah Costigan