Buildwas Primary School officially opens as Academy

The new academy is now being operated by the Priorslee Primary Academy Trust – which already runs Priorslee Primary Academy.

Around 50 parents, local residents, representatives from Priorslee, staff from the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust and the school's former governing body visited the school on Monday for a special ceremony to mark its transfer to an Academy.

Also in attendance was the village's oldest resident Kathleen Poole, who attended the school in the 1930s and posed for a picture with the school's current youngest pupil, Isla Tindall.

Tom Plim, currently the assistant principal at Priorslee, who will be taking the role of acting head teacher at Buildwas, said the event was a great success.

He now hopes the new partnership will allow the two schools to grow together.

"It is very exciting," he said.

"This is the first primary academy to span two local authorities, Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Council.

"Priorslee is a really large school in a relatively urban setting, while Buildwas is a very small school in a rural setting.

"The two are very different but they definitely have a lot they can learn from each other.

"This is the start of a new chapter for Buildwas.

"This will be about affording a first class education to children, with teaching that is no less than good and opens up a wide range of opportunities.

"There is the possibility that the year six pupils from Buildwas can join with Priorslee year six and take part in events, school trips and residentials.

"And there are lot of opportunities for staff as well."

The school was proposed to be closed in July last year, after being placed in special measures in January.

A major campaign and petition was launched to save the school.

And in October, the Priorslee Primary Academy Trust to take over its running.

Priorslee Primary Academy is currently rated Good by Ofsted.