Meeting over Shropshire school closure plan

Parents have been assured their views are being heard at a meeting over the proposed closure of one of nine threatened Shropshire schools.

Under the plans, pupils at Ifton Heath primary school in St Martins, Oswestry, would move to Rhyn Park school, which takes children aged up to 16.

A consultation on the proposed closures will run until 8 April and a final decision is expected in July.

Shropshire Council was concerned about getting the best outcome, it said.

'Paid for'

Zoe Clent, who has two children aged eight and six, spoke as people gathered at the Ifton Heath site on Monday.

She said: "I just [want] them to make sure the children are appropriately catered for on the new site with the difference in ages.

"If it does move, my daughter will only be seven when she goes there, so it's a huge difference in ages."

Ifton Heath school's business manager, Joy Higginson, said the current primary school was secure, "lovely" and the grounds were "fantastic".

She added: "Look at the security. We've got fencing all the way round, which we've recently paid for."

'Listening carefully'

David Taylor, director of children's services at the council, said: "What's common between us is that we're all concerned about getting the best outcomes for the children concerned.

"I'm concerned for all children in Shropshire. [Parents are] concerned for their specific children, so anything that echoes with that obviously we're listening carefully to."

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

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