Telford parents get say on school catchment changes
Telford parents will be given their say over whether catchment areas for schools should change.
Consultation on whether to change areas in Telford & Wrekin will run between December 2 and January 27.
It was agreed by Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet committee last night.
Youngsters in Muxton are most likely to be affected by the proposals.
They would be assigned to Telford Priory School, in Wrockwardine Wood, rather than Burton Borough School, in Newport.
Parents will be given their say over whether catchment areas for schools in Telford & Wrekin should change in the next few weeks.
Consultation on whether to change catchment areas will begin at the start of December, councillors agreed at a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet last night.
Youngsters in Muxton are most likely to be affected by the proposals, as they would be assigned to Telford Priory School in Wrockwardine Wood rather than Burton Borough School in Newport.
The change has been put forward as Burton Borough is under strain.
It will also mean the council would no longer have a statutory duty to provide transport from Muxton to Burton Borough.
It currently provides four school buses at a cost of £40,000 each, so the change would mean a substantial saving for the council.
Parents could still send children to Burton Borough but the council would not have to provide transport.
The authority has already cut its budget by £80 million since 2010, but council bosses expect to have to find nearly £50 million more in savings by 2020.
At Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet meeting held at Addenbrooke House yesterday (THUR NOV 17), councillors agreed to put the proposals forward for public consultation.
Parents could still chose to send pupils to Burton Borough School, but it would no longer have a statutory requirement to provide transport for pupils, and because it is within three miles of the Priory school, the council would have no requirement to provide transport there.
The meeting heard that the council has adequate school places for now and into the future, but problems are being created by pupils going to schools which are out of their area.
Councillor Liz Clare said it was a "difficult choice" to make, but one that was needed due to to be made in the face of Government cuts in funding cuts.Councillor Gilly Reynolds said: "The decision will be made post-consultation.
"We will take into account all the responses we receive.
"We want as many responses as possible so we can see the impact it will have on parents and students."
