Meeting over Shropshire schools closure plan

The first of a series of public meetings is to be held over proposals to close nine Shropshire schools.

A gathering at Barrow primary school, Broseley, which has 30 pupils, is taking place on Wednesday evening.

Meetings will be held at each of the schools and a final decision will be made once the public consultation ends.

Shropshire Council said Barrow was less than half full and educationally not doing as well as it should. Campaigners have been fighting the closure.

They are considering applying for either free school or academy status as a way of keeping it open.

Most of the pupils would be expected to transfer to Broseley primary under the plans.

The overall proposals include closing one secondary and six primary schools and two amalgamations, which would result in the closure of two primary schools.

Under the plans, 20 primary schools will also be federated, which would mean they would share governors and resources with neighbouring schools.

Protesters, including parents and teachers, demonstrated against the plans outside Shropshire Council's headquarters last month.