Joanne Gallacher
Political reporter, BBC Shropshire

Telford schools converting to academies could be charged up to £6,500.

When entering into an academy conversion, schools receive a grant from the Department for education of up to £25,000 towards their costs.

Image source, Google

Telford and Wrekin Council, however, says it receives no direct funding to cover the costs linked to academy conversions.

So it's proposing to recoup a contribution towards their costs, which will be within a range of £4,500 to £6,500 .

There are currently 11 academies in Telford and Wrekin.

BBC Weather Watchers

Thanks to BBC Weather Watchers Peter Steggles and Foggy for these lovely pictures of Longnor and Ludlow this morning.

It's going to be a dry and bright day for most of us today, with the best of the sunshine this morning. It will get cloudier this afternoon. Top temperatures of 21C (70F).

Image source, Peter Steggles

Image source, Foggy

BBC Midlands Today

West Midlands Ambulance Service is sending specialist paramedics , externalto help with the search and rescue operation at Grenfell Tower.

Image source, AFP

Members of the regional Hazardous Area Response Team will join emergency crews in London to help recover bodies from the ruins of the building.

At least 79 people are feared to have died in the fire, which began in the early hours of 14 June.

Students will be given the chance to see what it's really like to work in an operating theatre today.

It's part of a careers event being showcased at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital.

The touring group Operating Theatre Live is transforming the hospital's meeting rooms to enable students to experience a theatre environment.

Other activities include learning about types of treatments and dissecting real anatomical specimens such as pig hearts and brains.

Sixty students from local schools and colleges are taking part.

Shropshire Star

Shropshire’s biggest ever food festival welcomed people from across the Midlands as Shrewsbury was turned into Food Town for two glorious, sunshine days., external

Image source, Shropshire Star

Plans by Telford and Wrekin Council to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the town being built has been criticised by the leader of the opposition Conservative group.

Andrew Eade says the £200,000 earmarked for events throughout 2018 should be spent elsewhere.

Mr Eade says with cuts to services it's not right to spend money on the celebration. He claims the budget is out of control and does not show sound financial management.

The labour leader of the authority Shaun Davies says that the money will bring people together and attract investment to Telford.

Lucy Martin
BBC Weather

A dry, bright day with some sunny intervals and highs of 21C (70F).

Les Walton
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

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