Shropshire school heads in call to save hot meals
Headteachers across Shropshire have called for the retention of hot school meals at every school in the county.
The plea comes after Shropshire Council warned more than 60 of the county's 131 primary schools could have to axe hot meals by April because of budget shortfalls.
Schools will have to apply directly to the Government for funding which will be calculated on how many pupils they have and how many are eligible for free meals.
It will mean about half of the county schools face a shortfall that could lead them to scrap school meals.
Sandra Irish, headteacher at St John the Baptist Church at Ruyton-XI-Towns, called for hot meals to be safeguarded.
Mrs Irish said: "We don't know a great deal about the changes yet but I would be sorry to see any school lose its hot meal service. They are an important part of the children's day and it is important that children get a good meal. Out of 140 pupils we have, 90 take school meals."
Sara Andrew, office manager at Pontesbury School, which has 192 pupils, said: "I would hope as one of the larger rural schools our schools meals service will be safe but in general it is a worry."
Clunbury School said staff were not yet sure how the proposal would affect it, adding that the school received the meals in an arrangement with another school.
Paul Thompson, headteacher at Bryn Offa School in Pant, said: "I would be reluctant to lose our hot school meals."
Richard Pallett, headteacher of Ellesmere Primary, said: "Losing hot meals would be the last option."
Rachel Etterley, school business manager at Whitchurch Junior School, said: "We do not know what alternatives Shropshire Council will offer until we have briefings next week."
