Service held for school on hitlist

A thanksgiving service has been held in Shropshire for a school that is earmarked for closure. Youngsters from the primary school read out prayers during the service.

Farlow Primary School, one of the schools in the Bridgnorth district on a Shropshire County Council hitlist, was given a thanksgiving message at Farlow church morning service yesterday.

Reverend Colin Resch gave thanks that the school closure had been postponed. He also gave thanks to education establishments in general. Pupils from the school also took part in the service by reading out prayers.

Bridgnorth MP Philip Dunne visited Farlow school on Saturday as part of his tour of schools threatened with closure. He spoke to parents, children and governors about the future of the school.

Shropshire County Council announced at a special meeting at Shirehall last week that school closures could be axed but amalgamations could still go ahead.

But protesters have warned the fight isn’t over yet, amid fears that the decision may just be a stay of execution.

Now there are calls for an independent inquiry.

Shropshire County Council Cabinet members made the primary school U-turn at a meeting last week, as hundreds of protesters made their feelings known outside Shirehall - the headquarters of the authority.

Pupils, teachers and governors gathered together, many in fancy dress, holding banners and chanting in a bid to keep their schools from closing.

None of the proposed closures - which included Barrow, Beckbury, Buildwas, Church Preen, Farlow, Hopton Wafers, Kinlet and Morville schools - will go ahead, although 16 schools across the county could still be amalgamated.