Two Shrewsbury secondary schools to merge under new plans

The Grange School and Sundorne School and Sports College would become one single secondary school, combining their resources and unifying in brand new buildings within 10 years time, if the vision becomes reality.

Both schools operate within Shrewsbury Academies Trust, and the trust’s principal, Geoff Pettengell, is spearheading the multi-million-pound project which is in its very early stages.

“The initial letters have just gone out to stakeholders in the first stages of consultation, setting out in very general terms what we believe is a compelling and exciting vision for the future,” said Mr Pettengell.

“The creation of a single top-level secondary school would make perfect educational and economic sense and enable the young people in this area of Shrewsbury to maximise their potential.

“Both Sundorne and The Grange are comparatively small schools, so the plan is to create a brand new educational centre in Shrewsbury which will accommodate approximately 850 to 900 students aged 11 to 16, and possibly older.

“The facilities and resources will be much improved, the curriculum will be broader and, as both schools date back to the 1950s, they are in constant need of repair.

“Furthermore, with the funding framework which is in place for secondary schools, this will create a much more sustainable system moving forward.

“We see this as an enormously positive step which will see the young people of north Shrewsbury being given the best possible learning opportunities.”

Mr Pettengell said that the parents, governors, students and staff of both schools, as well as the feeder primary schools, heads of other secondary schools in Shrewsbury, and the local authority will have now received the initial consultation letter.

The consultation period closes on Wednesday July 9 and meetings will be organised within this period, Mr Pettengell said.