Head: Hopton Wafers in lost battle to get pupils

Staff and governors at a Shropshire school have been fighting a "lost battle" to stop a slide in pupil numbers, its headteacher claimed.

Sian Hawes, head at Hopton Wafers Primary School near Cleobury Mortimer, said the school had received no support from Shropshire Council to boost its profile and reputation after it was earmarked for closure in 2008.

The school has seen its numbers slide from a high of about 60 in the mid 1990s to 22,

It is one of eight primary schools facing the axe as part of Shropshire Council plans to combat what it claims are persistently falling pupil numbers.

Mrs Hawes, speaking at an official public consultation meeting over the plans at Hopton Wafers Village Hall last night, said: "Over the past few terms we have lost families at this school. A black cloud has been hanging over us ever since we were first earmarked for closure in 2008.

"We have done what we can to boost pupil numbers and the profile of the school.

"But the school has had a bad reputation in the past and there has been no support from the county to encourage parents to come to us.

"We have been fighting a lost battle."

About 40 residents attended last night's meeting and put forward an impassioned plea to Shropshire council chiefs to spare the school from the axe.

Hylton Smith, a former pupil, said he and his wife Hayley had moved back to the village from Cleobury Mortimer purely so their future children would be able to attend the school.

He said: "When my dad moved our family out of Birmingham to Hopton Wafers when I was eight I had speech and handwriting problems. Within two-and-a-half years at Hopton Wafers that was all sorted.

"Please keep Hopton Wafers alive."

Fellow former pupil Alan Bradford added: "Closing the school would be a big shock to everyone. I know for a fact it provides a superb education and it has come a long way since I was a pupil there — it would be a big mistake to close it."

Aggie Caesar-Homden, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "We are working extremely hard but no change is not an option at this point."