Cabinet meets to discuss primary school amalgamation proposals

Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet met yesterday (Monday 19 May) to discuss reports on the initial consultation into proposals to amalgamate or merge 16 primary schools across Shropshire.

Members of the public gave their views at the meeting and councillors discussed the outcomes of the initial consultation period, which included public meetings and visits to every school under consideration for amalgamation.

The decisions were as follows:

- Longmeadow CE and Oakland primary schools, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

- Ashford Carbonell CE and Caynham CE primary schools: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

- Clunbury CE and Lydbury North CE primary schools: Proceed to formal consultation, but officers to first report back to Cabinet on 25 June with recommendations on suggested sites for a new school.

- Oswestry Infant and Beech Grove CE Junior schools: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

- Holy Cross CE Junior and Springfield Infant schools, Shrewsbury: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

- Mount Pleasant Infant and Junior schools, Shrewsbury: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

- Grange Infant and Junior schools, Shrewsbury: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

- Meole Brace CE Infant and Meole Brace Junior schools, Shrewsbury: Proceed to formal consultation as recommended in report.

The formal consultation period will last for six weeks and cabinet will meet in July to make a final decision on each proposal.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I would like to reassure people that no decisions on the mergers themselves have yet been made; this meeting was to decide whether to go ahead with formal consultation. It was clear from the responses to the initial consultation that many people realise the potential benefits these proposals could bring to children’s education, and want them to go ahead. However, we will continue to listen to the views of parents, teachers, governors, education partners and the wider community during the formal consultation stage.”

20 May 2008