Parents back plan for a Shrewsbury 'super school'
Two out of three parents fully support plans to create a single multi-million pound "super school" serving northern Shrewsbury, it has been revealed.
About 67 per cent of parents surveyed backed a proposal by Shrewsbury Acadamies Trust to merge the Grange and Sundorne schools.
The new Shrewsbury Academy will eventually be based at a new, purpose-built site which could cost up to £15 million.
From September 2016 all Year 7 pupils will start their education at an expanded Sundorne School site and those currently at the Grange will complete their studies at the Worcester Road site.
The initial merger proposals had included plans to split year groups across the two school sites, however, these were dropped as a result of feedback from consultees.
It marks the latest chapter in the reorganisation of education in the county town. The Wakeman School near the English Bridge closed in July 2013 as part of a shake up of education services which also saw a number of primary schools across the county shut and federation arrangements set up involving several others to save resources.
Rachel Wintle, chairman of Shrewsbury Academies Trust board, said: "I am delighted that 67 per cent of our parents want a single school in the north of the town and that they agree with the trust vision, and 65 per cent of parents want it to be called the Shrewsbury Academy. The board is totally committed to providing an outstanding educational facility for all young people in the north of the town."
Geoff Pettengell, executive principal of Shrewsbury Academies Trust, described the merger as "a major step in the transformation of the education system in the north of the county town".
He said: "This has been a collaborative process from the start with 12 consultation meetings taking place.
"There has been an enormous amount of feedback from stakeholders and the community with a range of alternative ideas and constructive criticisms being made by parents in particular.
"We have listened carefully and tried to incorporate these into our proposals."
