Council will close village school

Council leaders today agreed the closure of a Shropshire village school because of falling pupil numbers.

But the decision by members of Shropshire County Council’s cabinet to close Childs Ercall Church of England School at the end of the summer term has left objectors dismayed.

They claim the decision was based on inaccurate and misleading data.

But the council, the local education authority, maintains there is no viable alternative to keeping the school open - only 15 pupils are currently on roll.

The Lichfield Diocesan Board is meeting tonight to decide whether to appeal.

Parent governor Esther Owen, who has two daughters at the school, said: “This is a very sad day.

“Our view is the council had already made up its mind the school was going to close and they have not listened to anything parents and governors have had to say.

“They have rubbished our figures on pupil numbers, even though we have identified children not on their list, which is old and incomplete.”

Mrs Owen said numbers would grow to 36 by 2010, but the council claimed the figure would still only be 18.

She said her family had moved to the village so the children could attend a church school.

Councillor Ann Hartley, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I feel very sad we are having to close a school. It is a horrible decision to have to take.

“The school was under threat 10 years ago and we have looked at other alternatives such as changing the catchment area and even keeping it open, but none of these are deliverable.”

Councillor Hartley also stressed the decision had been made under the council’s old schools organisation policy and not the current one. When pupil numbers fell to under 20, a review was triggered.

Education officials have reported the net saving from closure will be £80,896 a year - the equivalent of £4.09 for every primary pupil in Shropshire schools.

They said Childs Ercall school provided poor value for money.