Plans for the creation of all-through school in St Martins given backing

During the meeting next Wednesday cabinet will consider representations made during the consultation, which took place from 5 August 2011 to 16 September 2011, and make the final decision on whether to proceed.

Shropshire Council’s cabinet had previously agreed to defer the six-week consultation to allow for a further study to look at the site and design to take place, and for the collection of more information on the educational and organisational benefits of all-through schools. The report to next week’s Cabinet outlines some of the benefits of creating an all-through school as increasing continuity for pupils, improving teaching and learning, the quality of education, and pupils’ progress through strengthening links across the primary and secondary stages, and enabling the better use of resources.

Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Cabinet member for schools, said:

“We understand that this is a difficult time for pupils, parents, staff and the wider school community affected by this proposal – and for everyone affected by recent decisions on the future of education in Shropshire.

“As with all previous decisions, this will not be taken lightly. However, we have not arrived at this stage without thorough and careful consideration of all the issues and options – consultation has taken place on an extensive scale. We have worked alongside schools and their communities for more than a year to look at the challenges facing our schools and how these can be addressed.

“The recommendation follows significant efforts to encourage and support schools, parents, governors, pupils, the diocese, town and parish councils and wider communities to bring forward their own solutions. This has continued throughout the process with people being urged to come up with viable, sustainable long term alternatives to the proposals, which still ensure we can provide excellent education for all our children. Where this has happened we have listened and this can be seen in giving schools which were subject to proposals to close, the opportunity to proceed with federation arrangements.

“Further work in reaching a solution for St Martins has included councillors, officers, teachers and governors visiting a number of all-through and co-located schools to observe the potential advantages and disadvantages.

“At Cabinet next week, we will carefully consider the representations received during statutory consultation and the recommendations of the corporate director of people’s services.”

If the recommendation is approved, Ifton Heath Primary School will close in August 2012, with the extended school, which is proposed to include a nursery class, opening in September 2012.

Changes to education in Shropshire
In July Shropshire Council’s cabinet made the decision to close Barrow, Hopton Wafers and Maesbury primary schools and extend the age range of Buntingsdale Infant School. It was also agreed to create a single primary school in Shawbury and further work is taking place with Shawbury Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School to decide on the site of the consolidated school.

At the same meeting, Cabinet decided not to close Stiperstones Primary School, as proposed at an earlier stage, but to give the school the opportunity to progress a proposal to federate with Chirbury Primary School. Cabinet also agreed not to proceed to statutory consultation on proposals to close Onny and Lydbury North primary schools but to give them the opportunity to develop their proposal for federation.

Earlier this month the closure of the Wakeman School and Arts College in Shrewsbury was also agreed.

Barrow, Hopton Wafers, Maesbury and Shawbury primary schools will close in August 2012 and Wakeman School and Arts College in Shrewsbury will close in August 2013.