Almost 200 parents, pupils, governors and staff staged protests at Shirehall today as Shropshire Council leaders met to discuss plans to axe nine schools in the county.

The council claims the closures are needed to help tackle empty classroom places and funding shortages.

But the move has met with an angry response and campaigns have been launched to save the schools.

Chants of “save our school” were voiced by pupils at The Wakeman School & Arts College in Shrewsbury and parents from Onny Primary School travelled from the south of the county.

Under plans being discussed by the council’s cabinet today, eight primary schools are earmarked for closure in the summer of 2012 with the Wakeman due to close in July 2013.

A parent at Onny School, who did not wish to be named, said: “We are here today to protest and fight for our children’s future.”

Placard-waving parents from one of the county’s oldest primary schools also gathered to show their anger.

Car-loads of campaigners left Barrow Primary School in Broseley this morning ar- med with banners, Barrow teddy bears and vehicles em- blazoned with blue ribbons.

Governor Richard Jackson said: “A school that has been here for nearly 400 years will not be closed by a council that has been here for two years.”

Parent Greg Day said: “We are determined that the school will carry on with or without the help of the local authority.”

Wakeman headteacher Karen Moore led about 20 pupils to the demonstration along with volunteers, past teachers and parents.

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