Public can give views on catchment areas for Telford schools

Children in Newport are set to be given priority to schools in the town, with pupils from Muxton set to instead be given preference at the Telford Priory School

School catchment areas in Telford have not changed since 2008 and the council has decided that they need to be reviewed because of the many new homes being build in the borough.

For primary schools, the proposals will only affect Lilleshall residents, who would have priority for Lilleshall Primary School and Muxton residents who would have priority for Muxton Primary School.

Priority for schools in Newport would be given to residents of Newport and the villages of Cherrington, Church Aston, Edgmond, Howle, Lilleshall, Sambrook and Tibberton, Lilleshall residents would remain in the catchment for Burton Borough School but the catchment area for Telford Priory School would be extended to include Muxton residents who would no longer be in the catchment for Burton Borough School.

Currently it provides four buses at a cost of £40,000 each from Muxton to the Newport school, so the change would mean a substantial saving for the council.

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.

Also proposed is Lawley having a shared catchment area with Ercall Wood Technology College and Telford Langley School

Under the proposals, parents, just as they can now, will still be able to apply for places at any school in the borough. However, when considering school places, priority will be given to pupils from within a school's catchment areas.

Councillor Gilly Reynolds, cabinet member for education, employment and regeneration, said: "I hope that people will give us their views on these proposals and how it would affect them to help councillors take a decision early next year.

"The council must review school catchment areas and this is particularly needed to take account of the changes made to many of our schools, following the £200m Building Schools for the Future programme in the borough, which has rebuilt or remodelled every secondary school.

"We must also review these catchment areas to take account of changes in the borough's population now and its forecast growth in the future."

Any changes to school catchment areas are proposed to be made from September 2018.

The consultation runs from today ( until January 27 and people can have their say here.