Plans for Telford and Wrekin schools unveiled

Telford and Wrekin Council said it would launch a full consultation before any final decisions were made

Significant changes to the future plans of schools in Shropshire have been unveiled by Telford and Wrekin Council.

The proposals would see more of the borough's secondary schools rebuilt rather than "just remodelled".

The authority said the revised plans for its £200m Building Schools for the Future programme took into account issues such as expected future pupil numbers.

A full consultation on the proposals will begin on 21 November.

'Huge difference'

The plans include a new primary and secondary school for Stirchley, plus further education opportunities for teenagers aged 16 and over.

The development would incorporate the existing Grange Park Primary and Lord Silkin schools.

A Christian Faith Academy would be built in Priorslee for more than 1,000 students and would incorporate the existing Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College.

In Wellington, a new 1,200 place school would occupy the vacated site of the Blessed Robert Johnson College, to replace the current Charlton School.

Sutherland Business and Enterprise College and Wrockwardine Wood Arts College would be replaced with a new Co-operative Academy.

Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "The new proposals will achieve better value for money from the Building Schools for the Future programme while continuing to create high quality learning environments for our young people as well as community facilities for all.

"After reviewing previous proposals for delivering new educational facilities, I think these changes will make a huge difference to the standard of the facilities that we would now be able to provide."

The council said a number of consultation meetings were planned over the next few weeks.