Shock as 'failing' Shropshire primary school threatened with closure
A primary school is facing closure under plans being considered by Shropshire Council.
The authority is to consult on proposals that could result in the school at Buildwas, near Ironbridge, closing.
The school was branded "inadequate" and placed in special measures in January.
Prior to this it had been judged to require improvement.
The council said falling pupil numbers were affecting the school's financial viability and its ability to secure effective leadership and sustainable improvement.
A report outlining the reasons for the proposed closure will be considered by Anne Hartley, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for children's services, on Monday.
It will ask that she approves a proposal to formally consult on the closure of Buildwas Primary School in August 2016. If the proposal to consult is agreed, a six-week deliberation will take place from September 7 to October 18.
The council says consultation would consider factors including the limitations of the school site, the good quality of alternative provision available to pupils, the sustainability and viability of current arrangements, and the falling pupil numbers. Currently, only a half of eligible pupils in the catchment area attend the school. There are 71 children on roll and the school has places for more than 90.
Karen Bradshaw, Shropshire Council's director of children's services, said: "Our priority is to provide the best standard of education for all children across Shropshire.
"We have to give careful consideration to the longer term plans for securing effective and sustainable, high-quality provision for children in the Buildwas area.
"This consultation will help to inform our decision-making. We want to hear from stakeholders, parents, governors and pupils. If it gets the go-ahead it will be a genuine consultation seeking the views of the wider community."
Parents spoke of their shock at the decision.
Martin Hudson, from Buildwas, who has five children at the school, said: "It would be a massive shame if it gets closed because it's full of local children. Coalbrookdale would be the nearest school but that's about two miles away and the next nearest would be in Much Wenlock."
