A SUPER-FEDERATION of six south Shropshire schools could be set up in a bid to save an under-threat village primary from the axe.

Governors at Hopton Wafers Primary School, near Cleobury Mortimer, are in talks with colleagues at primaries in Stottesdon, Clee Hill, Cleobury Mortimer, Farlow and Kinlet over a deal which would see all six schools share resources.

Under the plans, all six would continue to feed into Lacon Childe Secondary School in Cleobury Mortimer but a single governing body would oversee the federation.

The lifeline for Hopton Wafers comes just days before the end of public consultation over Shropshire Council’s plans to close eight primary schools including Hopton Wafers. Kinlet, Stottesdon and Farlow have already been earmarked for federation status.

The Reverend Ashley Buck, a governor at Hopton Wafers, today said: “We are working towards a much larger federation and as far as we are concerned everything is still up for grabs. The idea is that the Hopton Wafers site will continue to be used and that a single governing body will run the six schools involved.”

Alan Gilhooley, headteacher at Lacon Childe School, confirmed discussions were taking place.

And Anita Raymond, headteacher at Kinlet Primary School, said: “We are working together as a family of schools.”

Meanwhile, campaigners in Onibury and Lydbury North have revealed they have collected almost 5,000 signatures calling for their schools to be saved.

Governors plan to present their business cases for creating a federation between the two schools to Shropshire cabinet members when they visit all five under-threat south Shropshire schools tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Hereford, the Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, was today visiting staff and pupils at Hopton Wafers, Onny and Barrow schools in a show of solidarity.

Shirehall officials plan to close the eight primary schools by summer 2012, while the Wakeman secondary in Shrewsbury has been earmarked for the axe in July 2013.

Council officials insist they will consider alternative suggestions.

By Peter Kitchen