Joy – Pupils and Barrow 1618 Free School Committee members celebrate the school’s stay of execution

SHROPSHIRE’S OLDEST primary school has been saved from the axe.

Parents and pupils at Barrow Primary School, between Broseley and Much Wenlock, were today celebrating after the Department for Education announced it is to become the first ‘Free School’ in the county.

The school, which has faced closure five times since 1972, will be officially closed by Shropshire Council in July next year, but will now re-open as a ‘Free School’ in the September.

The school will be independent, non-profit making, run by the campaign group but funded by the Government.

A campaign committee, called Barrow 1618, was set up after the council’s cabinet voted to close the 393-year-old school in May.

Simon Pennington, campaign spokesman, said: “We are delighted to have received confirmation from the Department for Education that we have been given approval to proceed with our plans.

“This marks a significant step on the journey towards opening the school.

“There is a great deal of hard work ahead to ensure it is fully prepared and ready for opening in September 2012, but this is what we have campaigned for and we are grateful to have the opportunity to deliver the vision contained within our proposal.

“Throughout our campaign we have received a huge amount of support from our community, and it is our intention to repay that with the establishment of a school which will continue the long tradition of Barrow for complimenting the range of education facilities available within the area.”

The school was founded in 1618 to provide an education for 25 boys from poor local families.

Ludlow MP Phillip Dunne, who has been praised by campaigners for his unwavering support, said: “I am delighted that Barrow 1618 has been given the green light and congratulate all those involved in working so hard to achieve this result.

“There will be lots more work to ensure the successor school opens in good shape next September, but I am confident that the present governing body has the right ingredients to re-establish a thriving primary school in Barrow.”

Barrow has been included in a list of 79 schools and technology colleges approved in principle by the Department of Education to open as ‘Free Schools’ in September 2012.

A spokeswoman for Shropshire Council said: “We are following the progress of the application and await to see if it progresses.”

By Paul Mannion