Schools saved in U-turn
Wednesday 30th January 2008, 11:58AM GMT.
Shirehall leaders today lifted the axe hanging over 22 closure-threatened Shropshire schools after a dramatic U-turn.
At a crunch meeting of the county council cabinet, Ann Hartley, the member for children’s services, proposed that plans to consult on the proposed closures should be scrapped.
She said consultations on the amalgamation of 16 other schools should still go ahead. The move was unanimously backed by all nine members.
Councillor Hartley proposed that instead of pressing ahead with the closure plans, cabinet members should instead give full consideration to the outcome of an all-party delegation meeting with schools minister Jim Knight, which is due to take place tonight.
Supported by council leader Malcolm Pate, she urged that the council further analyse a pupil count taken this month, along with all the information received from schools and communities in recent days and that further discussions on finding a solution to the problem of falling pupil numbers take place with schools and key education stakeholders.
Councillor Pate said he now wanted “true and meaningful” talks with schools and others to find a solution “acceptable to everyone”.
Councillor Peter Nutting said: “The Government in London doesn’t know the needs of rural counties and this is one of the things we have got to centre on.
“We are the fifth-worst funded education authority and if we could get £50 to £100 extra per pupil from Government it would make all the difference.”
During the debate, opposition non-cabinet members were allowed to speak. Lib Dem leader Peter Phillips warned that schools with fewer than 92 pupils on roll still needed to be on “red alert”.
Labour leader Alan Mosley attacked the Tory administration for the “farce” it had created.
A crowd of nearly 1,000 protesters gathered outside the Shirehall were told of the new proposal by MP Philip Dunne and Councillor Nigel Hartin.
Mr Dunne told the Shropshire Star: “This is fantastic news for all Shropshire schools facing closure. It is a great credit to all the people who have demonstrated and a great credit to the cabinet, who have listened to their concerns.”
Police estimated that 700 to 800 people turned up for today’s protest, which came as the Government warned education authorities in England that, by law, they should not be closing rural schools.
A letter is being drafted to councils telling them they must take very seriously the statutory requirement in the 2006 Education Act that there is a presumption rural schools will not close.
Check out our photo gallery above
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Why is it that we are constantly threatened with the closure of facilities and the loss of services in Shropshire? Fire stations, hospitals, cottage hospitals, train services, maternity units, ambulance units, police stations, post offices and now schools. It’s one thing after another. And it isn’t just facilities and services – it’s our entire way of life in a rural county that the State is trying to change FOR EVER. Perhaps “they” think we’re a soft touch – LET’S SHOW THEM THAT WE’RE NOT!
Report abuse
As a parent of a child currently attending Maesbury School, I find it heart-warming to say the least that the incredible rally of support generated by parents concerned by the impending closure has resulted in a stay of execution for Maesbury School, as well as others.
The people have spoken, and they have been heard.
Report abuse
Shropshire county councils reason for trying to close our schools was a drop in admissions, surely if this were the case why was a report put out today that the government are needing to put more money into maternity for growing numbers of births? why are most largers schools full to the brim.
The council take more and more money of us each year, for what appears to be less services, even our bins arent collect every week now, however the wages keep going up.
Lets not accept these school closurse and fight the pen pushers all the way.
Report abuse
This is not just a Shropshire problem but a national problem of falling school numbers. There are going to be thousands of spare school places and unless there are some cuts tax payers and council tax payers are both going to be subsidising disproportionately expensive schools. The rural schools near me have been kept going by mums in 4x4s driving their children to the nice little school rather than putting up with the riff raff in town schools.
Report abuse
Village schools are the heart of the community. Why should children living in rural areas have to travel long distances to be in larger class sizes? It is important for children to have a sense of belonging and to mix with other local children – especially at primary school age.
Report abuse
School closure is a requirment to cut the costs to us – the taxpayers. I have 2 children in the system but realise if I choose to live in a rural area I may have to travel for my childrens schooling. Why should the council have to pay for these placements when it is a matter of choice as to where parents live – I had to move home to get the best schooling – why can’t others ?
Report abuse
Well to be honest nick what a silly statement the closeing of village schools is a disgrace we had a perfectly good one, they closed now our children are bussed 5 miles to a slightly bigger school new houses were built on our school sight 8 children moved in they now have to be bussed at cost to the council some of the schools on the hit list means the children will have to go to the same school 2 years down the line classes are over crowded standards drop etc etc etc new problems and people like you nick will be on the side lines whinging and whineing if they hadnt bussed these kids in my childs education wouldnt be suffering you moved for the sake of your childs education your choice we are tax payers too and it is our choice to stop or try to stop school closures
Report abuse
i spy a breakthrough here. the goverment through their schools minister Jim knight has written to all councils in england warning them not to close rural schools. today i listened on the radio to the today programme to a parent and school governor who said his school morville was full with 68 pupils and is on the list for closure. he says they can take more pupils but scc have refused.
in error i have blamed the government i now find scc are the author of their own mess and to quote they have pooped in their own nest! sort this out scc and save your rural schools. if it was not so serious i would put you in the same category as ludlow town council, that is a laughing stock of the county
Report abuse
I agree with Harold, it is time that people stood and showed the authorities that the people of Shropshire are not a soft touch.
Yet the education is Shropshire is one of the lowest funded in the country, but overall still produces among the best results.
It should be rewarded not punished.
Report abuse
In response to ‘Joan’ – what is wrong with wanting the best for your children? I don’t want my son to attend a school where he is in competition with 30 other children for his teacher’s attention – common sense tells me that this puts him at a disadvantage. Surely parents voting with their feet will only encourage schools to improve their standards. As for the ’4×4 mums’, they may well be keeping the local economy afloat by gracing your local petrol station, post office and shop with their custom. I’m pleased that the schools have been saved.
Report abuse
In response to Joan’s comments – do they not have ‘riff raff’ in the country areas!!
Report abuse
nick – your sad!
Report abuse
I attended the protest at Shire Hall this morning as a parent and governor of Tilstock school. Everyone was there for one reason -to stand up and be heard for a decision they believe is wrong. We have an excellent school in our village, central to the community. It is our intention to keep it that way.
Report abuse
Congratulations to all those who turned out today. Keep up the pressure.
Report abuse
It’s not always that easy for people to move, and by closing village schools parents will have to find some means of transporting children to other schools, adding to the school run mayhem, as village buses are none existant.
Report abuse
Nick, what do you suggest should happen to the children of the present village and small community residents? Would you see them move to the larger towns? This would destroy the village communities, which I’ll give you benefit of the doubt and assume you wouldn’t want. In any case, many parents have already moved to provide their children with improved schooling – into the rural communities for the smaller schools which were threatened under these ill considered policies. It is illegal to discriminate against people on grounds of gender or sexual orientation, age, racial background… yet you seem to suggest discriminating in provision of education on grounds of geographical isolation. Nonsense.
Report abuse
I tend to agree that this is a national problem – school numbers falling. To pick one statistic at random from the council report: Morville School (something like 54% of pupils out of area) with around 68 pupils and a school 3 or 4 miles away in Bridgnorth with 70 free places and another maybe 5 miles away with 25 free places! Council tax payers can’t keep paying for this sort of thing really and people are going to have to face that sooner or later.
SCC are almost certainly going to have to revisit this matter at some point I would have thought – I’m only intrigued as to why, apparently all of a sudden, they have performed this U turn?
Report abuse
Harold has had a moment of lucidity!
Report abuse
And all done from beginning to victory without the help of Kawczynski.
Proof if it were needed that you don’t need him Shrewsbury.
Report abuse
We need to keep up the pressure, great support today, wonderful unity shown, this is why we need these eschools to stay open.Community spirit.
Report abuse
Does anyone find it strange that every pro closure comment seems to always come back to MONEY! Not the welfare and happiness of our children. Many of these children have been at their schools for years and have strong bonds with their teachers and friends. Many friends would be seperated due to catchment areas and this would be happening to some of the children the same year that they were sitting for their sats. But hey, lets just think about saving a few pounds a year.
I didn’t hear an outcry when the goverment gave norther rock billions of our tax payers money!
Well done to all at Shirehall today, I think we did a fantastic job.
The sense of support was wonderful.
Report abuse
I am a parent of 2 children at oakland primary school and feel that we have been put to the back by our council i was at the protest and sat in on the meeting which i feel was a sham! they are not stopping the schools closing only putting them on hold and merges will still go ahead! the errors in their calculations were unbelivable they were 3 years old and did not reflect our or other schools figures our village is a rural village NOT urban we pay a parish council same as any rural area so if we are now a urban area we will need refunds on our coucil tax and water rates!!!! We have been told that we will be merged with longmeadow school which is wrong that school will then have over 400 pupils come january 09 this is too many and with new housing being built even more children will be coming into the area 1 school is not enough!! we have more than the stated numbers going to the school and these numbers have rose every year. This school is the back bone of our community our children cant wait to go every morning and it would be devestating to them to loose out on the loving environment that oakland primary provides!.
Report abuse
Call me cynical but I understand tahat all they’ve said is that the decision to consult on closing these schools has been dropped. They will now be looking at ALL schools because the savings still have to be made. Be warned, none are safe.
Report abuse
It’s excellent that the schools have been saved from closure, but the amalgamations still stand? Why? Why not shelve that for a year or so? I just hope the amalgamations are put to the side for a few months.
Report abuse
Our Politicians were bleating about us not leaving our TV’s on “standby” to save power and emissions. How much diesel will be needed to bus all those children to other areas, and how many more vehicles would be needed?
re. Simons comments above, – are they proposing to close the wrong schools?
Brian
Report abuse
well done children, parents, teachers and even harold.there is no secrecy to the u turn, we should give an element of praise to those who spoke about this on radio 5 live and radio 4 today programmes on wed. am, also a big thank you to jim knight the goverments schools minister for issuing an ultimatum to scc not to close rural schools. he must now follow this up with some cash to assist scc to keep open those 22 schools. the next fight may come over the 16 mergers. i urge you all to keep your loins girded for battles to come. a splendid victory for common sense and the children, parents and teachers of my beloved shropshire. floreat salopia to you all!!
Report abuse
Beware with this one – Have you won the war or just round one of the fight – Now the council know the level of feeling and concern they will change track, its very rare that once they make a plan that they don’t see it through one way or an other – Remember the ballot box is strongest weapon we have………
Report abuse
In response to Joan. I think it is disgusting that you refer to children in town schools as ‘riff raff’. I attended a town school, namely the John Hunt. I came from a one parent family on benefits and lived in a deprived area. So I take you are refering to people such as myself when you say ‘riff raff’. Whereas I know work for a reputable law firm with a degree in law and letters after my name. Pretty good for ‘riff raff’ from a town school don’t you think.
It is people like you that are just as bad as bullies at the end of the day.
It does not matter where or who with your children go to school and from what background they come from if they want to achieve they will despite any restrictions.
I don’t believe that any schools should closed in rural areas as well as town areas it is important for children to feel comfortable where they go to school and who they are with, if they are sent somewhere out of the way and alien to them they could become isolated. We need more schools in shropshire as they are getting few and far between.
Report abuse
I think it strange that the turnaround was so sudden on not closing these 22 schools, but then we still have to contend with the process to amalgamate some of the other schools. Call me paranoid but wasn’t the turnaround a little too quick? What about the schools that are possibly going to be merged – 1 Head = less money allocated to the school?
Report abuse
Proud to be riff raff. I am proud that my child and her friends are donating £200 each year to pay for rah rah’s education. We are so proud that rah rah’s mummy is also damaging the environment driving from her place to rahvillage by 4X4.
Less divisively, lets just invade Telford, take their education cash, and all our kids would be £200 better off. Who made this system? Did no one try to raid Ed Balls today?
Report abuse