Council urged to back Telford schools changes

Council bosses are being urged to back the closure of two infant schools in Telford to pave the way for the creation of new primaries.

William Reynolds Infants School in Westbourne, Woodside, and Madeley Infants in Upper Road would be closed in the shake-up.

Telford & Wrekin Council wants to merge William Reynolds Infants with the neighbouring William Reyn- olds Junior School and Madeley Infants with John Fletcher Junior, also in Madeley.

The council's cabinet, which meets on June 21, is being asked to approve the move.

The proposals, which wo- uld come into force in September, mean the council will cut costs which will be used across schools within the borough.

Councillor Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The council has carried out a full consultation with stakeholders since the intention to merge both sets of schools was announced earlier this year. The consultation processes for both mergers took place earlier in the year and were on the whole met with favourably."

The move comes after headteachers Rosie Faulk- ner and Peter Mandelstam, of Madeley Infant School and John Fletcher School, announced plans to retire at the end of the summer term.

William Reynolds Infants school, has about 180 pupils, aged between three and seven, and was rated as satisfactory following its most recent Ofsted report.

Madeley Infants School has about 170 pupils and received an "outstanding" inspection report.

The Madeley schools stand next to each other and it is hoped by creating a through school it will end stressful transition for children stepping up from infants to juniors.