The chairman of governors at a closure-threatened school near Oswestry has quit her post as it fights for its future.

Dawn Jones had only recently taken on the role at Maesbury Primary School, near Oswestry, before it was named in a Shropshire Council report as one of a number of primary schools which could be shut next summer. But the school’s headteacher, Rosemary Finney, claimed the job had become “too much” after closure proposals were put on the table.

Mrs Jones refused to comment on her departure today.

It comes as it was revealed that millions of pounds is stashed in school bank accounts across the county.

The revelation came at the first in a series of public meetings at schools threatened with closure, held at Barrow CE last night.

Meanwhile, members of Shropshire Council’s scrutiny committee called for the consultation on the closure of nine county schools to be scrapped after claims information used in the process is inaccurate.

Mrs Finney said of Dawn Jones’ departure: “She has stepped down. She was new to the governing body and to be drawn into the proposals was a bit too much.

“She took on the role as chairman back in the autumn term and of course has been thrown into this.

“She has been attending the meetings but found it all too much.

“We have a strong governing body and have had lots of meetings, on top of the consultation meetings, but she reluctantly wished us well and decided to go.

“It is a shame. She has worked really hard and attended all the meetings in and out of school.”

The school will now carry on with the deputy chairman, Reverend Robin Martin and will organise a future meeting to name a new chairman.

Mrs Finney said the school would continue to fight the proposals and said a new pupil had joined the school, bumping numbers up to 41.

She also revealed the school governors recently met with governors from Morda Primary School.

Mrs Finney said it was a “positive” meeting and although it was still in the “early stages” there was the possibility the two bodies could work together in the closure threat fight.

A consultation meeting for Maesbury Primary School supporters will be held on March 17 from 6.30pm.

By Chrissy Symmons