General Features

Have your say on the proposed closures/mergers

anonymous
hi im a pupil at church preen school and i hate the idea that they will shut my school wat happens to my future?

kayleigh
SAVE CHESWARDINE SCHOOL

kerry young
Me and my family moved from hampshire to BUILDWAS 5 months ago, both my children 5yrs and 10yrs went to a large private school which had up to date IT equipment and all the latest technology,but it had no heart to it and there was no community spirit which we craved. we moved to buildwas after months and months of looking for the ideal school for our children, we found our dream in buildwas primary school, well run, wonderful head teacher, polite pupils and everything we were looking for. we couldn't be happier in buildwas,news of the school closing was heartbreaking.i just wanted to say i wouldn't move away from this village and school for all the money in the world, please help keep rural schools open, they are just soooooo important to our children, family and comunity life.xx

Glyn Bowen
Please add my name to support the 'keeping rural schools open'campaign. the reasons for have already been ably amplified

David Voysey
I am disgusted that the National Government has reneged on its promise made 10 years ago by Steven Bryers to protect rural schools. I also have contempt of a County Council Administration that is too weak to stand up for its rural communities and can only think in terms of money and numbers. Closure of these schools means the death of local communities as we know and cherish and will change rural settlements into expanded "old people's homes" if not graveyards.

Allan Toop
as parish priest in Hope I have a very clear vested interest, but I cannot understand why a school which such a high profile in the world of education is to be closed. How many small primary schools get feature articles in the Times Educational Supplement? Well, Hope has done it twice recently and is held up as an example of good and innovative practice. We are close to full and and likely to remain that way. Much is made of the proportion of children from out of catchment - but this reflects the response of good parents to what they see as the route to a first class education. Incidentally, the council briefing document refers coyly to "50 pupils in a 60 place School" omitting to qualify that by telling the readers that it was the LEA that went to Hope and asked the governors to close one classroom in order to provide pre-school accommodation and thereby helping them to meet their obligation in that area of education. So much more to be said! We must not allow bureaucratic decisions todestroy the best in education for surely that is what an education authority should be about.

Kirsteen Harris-Jones
Yet another bright idea from the powers that be, I think not. My husband and I moved here ten years ago with the intent on quitting the rat race, and bring our children up in a quiet rural atmosphere within the bossom of a fantastic community. That community is Welshampton, if the school goes so does the community it's identity lost which sadly seems to be happening across rural areas everywhere, being trampled on again and again in the name of saving money. Things simply do not work once they grow to large as can be seen in inner city schools, the evidence is plain to see. Once this happens there is no turning back. Then ten years down the line when classes are too large and we are seeing disruptive behaviour in classrooms as teachers are unable to give the attention neccessary, some governmental bright spark will decide that maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all.Our children are not simply a set of numbers they are people and our future. Small schools work better, for goodness sake let common sense prevail.

Tim Barker
The proposed closures will rip the already threatened hearts out of rural communities. Once again policy proposals ignore the realities of life outside urban areas.

Tabitha Lythe
I went to Myddle Primary School between 1988 - 1995 and think I benefitted from a rural education. I have been able to mix with people from various backgrounds because all people were welcome at the school regardless of ability. Friends of mine who went to town/city schools fought to go to those schools with a better reputation so did not necessarily have the chance to mix with many different people. Where else would you get a doctor's child, a farmer's child, a builder's child and an unemployed person's child in one school except for the countryside? Being able to walk to school was one of the many joys of living in a village that has a school which is also why many people have chosen to move to Myddle over the years. The government keeps talking about reducing carbon emissions and getting children to walk or cycle to school, if they close Myddle Primary School, many children will have no choice but to travel by car/bus because the nearest schools are miles away. The local public transport is poor so it would also impede many children from attending any after school activities because they may not be able to get home. I don't see how this would improve a childs education. It would not surprise me if the Council wishes to close the school to then sell the land to make money. A property developer will buy the land and then build houses. Myddle has a lovely large playing field which is probably why it was targeted. It wouldn't surprise me if this is a similar case for most of the other rural schools they are proposing to close. If this were the case then more families would be moving to the village without a school for their children to attend. The loss of the school would have a serious impact on the dynamics of the village both socially and economically. We are eventually going to end up with massive villages with schools and tiny villages without schools that used to be larger when they had a school. Once again rural people are being discriminated against so that town schools can be improved.

Dorothy Smith
On Friday, Weston Lullingfields Primary School will recieve an award from UNICEF, it is the level 2, 'rights respecting School' award. only 6 other schools in the COUNTRY have recieved this award. How can the council plan to close such a wonderful school with high standards of achievement.The school welcomes all children and has helped many children who require a small,warm , friendly and calm environment, to flourish and reach thier potential.This plan is shortsighted,an dshows a total disregard for those parents who try to provide a community environment for thier children.Every child matters?,...unless of course you live in the country.

Julie
Whats happening to this country! Whats happened to.. whats best for the children instead of Mmm... how can we save more money, 'i know! we'll get rid of some smaller schools even though they're thriving and shove the children somewhere else. Is that really the way forward, i don't think so! all it's going to do is create more of a problem on the roads. Having smaller rural schools spaced out helps to keep trafic to a minimal especially if you live in a area where the lanes are only wide enough for one car. Can you imagine the problems that would create!! All i say is look at the bigger picture, could a rural community cope with double the traffic they are getting now! I think not!!!!

Marion
As a parent of a pupil at Kinlet school I was shocked at the proposal of it being closed. Yet again when money is involved its the rural areas that suffer. They have closed our post offices, most of our village shops are gone public transport hardly exists, the local police stations have closed, now they want to close our rural schools. Instead of investing money into futuristic logos and state of the art features lets invest in what we already have. Rural schools where our children are taught in a warm friendly enviroment where everybody matters and each child is a person not a statistic. After all our children are our future and they are worth fighting for.

Ian Andrew
Welshampton CofE School is said to be “outstanding in every aspect” according to Ofsted. This we are told is what schools are supposed to be aiming for and here is a school that has achieved that goal so why is it now under threat of closure?!!I would seem that small schools are too expensive we are told but it doesn’t seem to matter that small schools also seems to be the best way of giving children an outstanding education!Isn’t this the right way of doing things, especially in a rural community?To help save the outstanding school please sign our on-line petition at www.savewelshamptonschool.co.uk
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David Burgess
Absurd! The total savings from this stupid proposal are, according to information provided by Owen Patterson MP just £50.25 per annum for each child in Shropshire. This is a rediculously small saving for the massive upset, upheaval and damage that will be done to all of our children and communities. We must all fight to save all of our Shropshire schools.

Marg
It's not just the schools that are closed that will be effected it's the also the schools that will take the influx of new pupils. My children are in school which has 125 children and only 5 classes, this could increase by another 60 children if they get an influx of children from one of the schools closing nearby! They have no room for more children, drop off and pick up is already a nightmare on the road around the school and, they'd have to get to they're new school down a lane - I wouldn't like to be going against the flow of traffic when up to 60 extra cars could be heading in my direction! Have they really thought through the impact of closing these schools? What will happen next? The closed school will be demolished to make way for new build houses - what school will the new children in these new houses go to?!!

Chris
“the figures that we are given of 3k per annum for every child in Shropshire compared to the 7k children get in London is unbelievable” The politics of envy. In London you often have to advertise several times to fill a teaching place, in Shropshire you are overwhelmed with excellent applicants. In London you have to pay teachers more to stay and they need the money – an average London semi costs £423K in Shropshire it costs £179K (BBC Data). Then there’s the number of free school meal kids, SEN kids, statemented kids and classes where half the kids speak English as a second language…need I go on? Shropshire gets £300 less than the English average (BBC Data)… but then 50% of counties get less than the average.

Will Martin
My wife and I moved to Myddle 10 years ago, one of the major reasons being a well respected village school as we were hoping to raise a family in a nice rural location.Does SCC think that people no longer in the future will want to do as we have done.Not everyone wants to live an urban lifestyle !What price can be put on a quality education and a great start to life.When you see the amount of money that is wasted in this country it makes you wonder where the governments priorities lie, also the figures that we are given of 3k per annum for every child in Shropshire compared to the 7k children get in London is unbelieveable,it's about time SCC got behind Shropshire's communities instead of trying to kill them off !!

Humphrey
I have just read the comment from my local MP in Ludlow that this is a nationwide problem from the Isle of Wight to Linclonshire to Herefordshire to Cheshire. What he should say is that this a conservative council problem as all these council are conservative controlled. I have voted conservative all my life but my grandchildren who are affected by these school closures have mind up to never vote conservative again.

A Parent of ex village school children
How stupid is this county getting? As Howard Berry has pointed out Millions of pounds are spent on history but what about our future children. How far are you expecting these tiny tots to travel. Our public transport in this county needs to be looked at first. You move our youngsters and the parents, grand-parents etc need to have the means of getting to the school you intend to take the kiddies to. Schools rely on parents etc for fund raising events sports days and general get togethers....... Lets just close our villages altogether shall we. Because that is whats happening slowly. No Schools and no post offices!!!!!!!

Nikki Tildesley
Both my children attend Welshampton CofE School and we are devastated at the possibility of closure. The school is “outstanding in every aspect” according to Ofsted and offers "excellent value for money" - so where is the merit in closure. The children are very proud of their achievements and thrive in a small community school environment. They are happy and well adjusted and enjoy learning about their local area and its history. Isn’t it about time our Government started to look after children in rural areas? After all they have failed miserably in the inner cities. Funding would be better spent in smaller schools teaching respect for each other and pride in the local community. Please support us in saving our school by signing our on-line petition at www.savewelshamptonschool.co.ukThank you The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites

Michael Sheppard
I am a parent of a pupil at Weston Lullingfields School. I am strongly opposed to the the closure of any of our rural primary schools. They are the liveblood of village life and we must all stand together.To that end, the parents and friends of Lydbury North School have set up an excellent web site at www.saveourschool.co.uk. (The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites) It can become one of the focal points of our campaign. You can leave a message there that will help our cause. There is also a link to enable you to send an email to Gordon Brown that you disagree with this policy.I hope to see as many peopla as possible on Wednesday at The Shirehall.United we stand!

Powys Geezer
This plan is disasterous. The statistics for how Councillors voted is in the public domain and can be seen at www.heatherkidd.org and also at www.dontlosehope.org.uk. (The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites) Both websites have persuasive information and arguments setting out the real reasons why the closure decisions were taken. Knowledge is power, people! Let's use it to our advantage!

Sarah Edwards
We spent a lot of time and anxiety in choosing a school to suit my daughter. Other people involved in her early years education agreed that a smaller, supportive, friendly atmosphere would suit her better. She is very shy and lacks confidence. The staff, children and parents of Weston Lullingfields school have helped and encouraged her greatly. It is a wonderful school and every child really does matter there. The children are all known for their individual strengths and weaknesses. They all support and encourage each other. Each child is given every opportunity to fulfil their own potential. As everyone else has said, the school is the heart of our community, without it the spirit will evaporate. Who will enter the Scarecrow Festival once the enthusiasm of the school children has gone?10 years ago Steven Byers stressed that the government recognised the importance of the school to the survival of a rural community as a whole - I certainly don't think that rural life has changed enough to warrant the devastation that faces so many village communities! I cannot believe that it will only save £1.8m - poor children and communities being sacrificed for such a small amount! How much will the transport cost to the new schools?

Shropshire Born & Bred
Shropshire County Council is supposed to be an elected body by the people of Shropshire to act in the best interests of the people of Shropshire. I am struggling to see how closing 22 village schools, which directly effects a third of primary school children in the county, is acting in our best interests. Most, if not all of these 22 schools have achieved fantastic results not just academically but also socially, why does the County Council what to change/break a formula that is so clearly working outstanding well.....just look at Shropshire schools in the national league tables?!?! Shropshire Born, Shopshire Bred, it's only the Council who's thick in the head...

Shropspy
I've just read the piece about Rushbury. If Jill Groves has read the report, she must have missed the fact that educating children from the country in towns, but about matching the number of rural schools to teh number of pupils living there. The report shows which rural schools rural pupils from closing schools would be able to go to, and points out that £13m of new investment will mean better facilities when they get there.

Phil Dale Head of Onny
I do not believe any longer that spare places and lack of funding are the real underlying issues around this situation/policy for Shropshire. The county has a huge pot of Capital Money £129 million pounds to be spent in the next 14 years!! This is ring fenced for Primary schools rebuild under the "Vision for a school of the future." £16 million pounds to be spent in the next 4 years!! Where is this money to be spent? and what are the county's plans? Do we know of any?? Onny school is on the county's proposed list for closure. This school provides a viable educational choice for parents in the area and has excellent facilites which are well maintained. Yet we learn there are proposals to amalgamate two schools in the area with a total of 85 pupils and build a new school possibly from part of this pot of money. I must therefore pose the question is this a proper use of public funds? Your taxes!!

Martin Highfield(Former Chair of Governors)
Myddle school is the single daily social network point for the community. Apart from a pub and church there are no other facilities around which the community flows. Old and young attend the school fete's, quiz, 5 aside football, funday, and PTA events. The school has extensive grounds( huge expansion potential), wildlife area, playground and modern buildings incorporating a new ICT suite. The Council figures are incorrect, I believe schools have been shortlisted and only then have reasons have been sought to justify inclusion. However, the data used for Myddle is seriously flawed. Numbers of children walking to school are incorrect, capacity is specified as 120(4 classes) instead of 90(3 classes) following conversion of one class to a computer suite. Backlog maintenance is specified at £30450, however in the last 4 years the school has finished modernisation and building work leaving only the playground as a governor target area. Such capital projects come from the schools devolved capital budget anyway managed by the governors, therfore the £30 thousand specified is unqualified.Finally the schools listed as alternatives for Myddle pupils cannot accomodate everyone, based on the councils own figures. The main alternative has no parking, poor access, no hall for PE (children bus elsewhere),no lunch hall meaning many children eat at their desks and no potential for expansion.

Margaret Price
My son is currently at MYDDLE school, which is on the 'proposed' closure list. I think the emotional impact on young children being dragged through a long consultation period is extremely damaging to them. They are aware of what is going on and are devastated at the thought that their little school may close. It is after all, the most important part of a primary aged child's life. Myddle as a village is just starting to develop. A new shop and affordable housing being built on Alford Farm, if you are providing more houses for families to move into the area, what on earth is the purpose of getting rid of the school. Maybe Ann Hartley and her colleagues should actually visit each school included on their list!! Would it not have been a good idea to let teachers tell parents as soon as they knew their school was on the list, instead of learning through the local press? Our headteacher wanted to inform parents before the press release and was told by the LEA that she wasn't allowed to!! What is transparent about that? Please don't let the council and government bully parents into decisions we think are wrong for our children. I have created a facebook group, to keep schools in the area updated with their indvidual circumstances, and to bring unity to this problem. This country seems to be governed on divide and conquer, let's stick together for the good of all children. Facebook group is Save Our Rural School Shropshire, get anyone you know to log on and keep up to date with developments.

parent
As a parent with children at Coleham Primary I feel I must speak up for the excellent headteacher, staff, pupils and parents of the school. If Phil Smith had listened to the radio interview with Mrs Rathmell and an interview with a parent earlier in the week he would realise neither were saying they supported the closure of schools. Both stated that their were issues with funding in Shropshire which meant larger schools often received less funding than others in the county. I realise this is a highly emotive subject, but it saddens me when I read comments about 'not everyone wanting to send their children to a town with police sirens,speeding cars etc...'(which icidently is not my experience of a town school). Well, not everyone has the choice to get in a car and drive to a rural primary school with 20 or less children in a class. Everyone has strong feelings for their Primary School because the very nature of them make them precious and teachers in both town and country schools are special, caring people who do their very best for their pupils. Sadly, some have far less resources than others and still make a fantastic job of it. Yes 'every child matters' and our children matter too. As Mr Budd and the parent of Coleham stated earlier in the week the funding needs to go on real children and not empty chairs.

Howard Berry
We as a country seem to have our priorities all wrong. As a parent who's daughter should be starting at Cheswardine school next year I found it galling to listen to a report about the school closures to save about £2million,having just heard on Radio 2 that the Heritage Lottery Fund is donating nearly £45million to aid continued preservation of the Cutty Sark and Mary Rose!!! What is more important, to preserve our past or to sustain our future?

A Parent
The savings year on year quoted on Radio shropshire by Shropshire County Council were around the 1.8 millions pounds. This is a very small proportion of cash to save for the sacrifice of village life and childrens local education. The County Council are becoming a Unitary council in April 2009, they claim it will save an estimated 9.88 million per year, whats 1.8million when they are estimating that. Come on County Council, whats going on!!

Fiona Hendry Governor at Maesbury School
Maesbury is a thriving small school, which caters specifically for children with special needs and gifted and talented children. In the Shropshire Stars' article on school closures it was stated that if Maesbury closed then the existing pupils would be sent to Morda or West Felton. However according to Shropshire County Council's Parents Guide to Education in Shropshire both of these schools are full or over subscribed. If that is the case where are our children meant to go?

Cyril Adams
I agree fully with the comments of Tina Archer regarding Hope School.I know that in law,the welfare of the children always comes first,except it seems when the Council, who we elected to represent our views,get involved.I have listened to the 'programmed'comments of some of those we elected fear for local democracy.We have had Unitary forced upon us,against the wishes of the majority,and were told this would save us millions of pounds.Why not use some of these millions and stop (a)punishing the children affected today and (b)tearing the heart and soul out of communities?

nicola peate
Tilstock School shouldnt be closed the are going to kill the village its not fair. I understand its not the biggest school but everyone who goes there loves it and all its staff are excellent. I think it is a travisty on part of goverment to do this. It no wonder we have got hooligan children when they got no rural schools to teach them community spirit

cathy rose
Welshampton School. Even the idea that our 'outstanding' school (and I quote our grade 1 throughout OFSTED report!)is even being considered for closure is complete lunacy. We have 81 children, only 1 child short of capacity, excellent teachers and facilites and above all else very happy and very well educated children. This is well beyond short sightedness in fact it's downright scary.

Phil Smith
I cannot believe tha the head of coleham primary school would back Government propsals on closing rural schools a childs education is paramount for every child if she doesn,t recorgnise this she is in the wrong job.get behind us we dont want our children in large school sizes what about the Governments pledge to this.If its a fight they want a fight they will get.

Julie Bates
Would it not be more economical and greener to transfer a handful of students out from inner city schools to the schools earmarked for closure in order to make up numbers, rather than transfer all existing students into inner city schools?Village schools are the lifeblood of a community and it is arguable that children attending these schools have a much better start in education than those attending large, impersonalised schools. I am sure there are children who currently live an equal distance between the two who would surely benefit from such a move.

Jacki Watts
ONNY SCHOOL is in a league of its own. It provides every facility a growing child could want and a warm extended family atmosphere. Generations of local families have been educated here. It is an essential part of our rural community and way of life. The parents, teachers and governors have created a school which meets all of the key aims set out in the 'Proposed Changes' leaflet issued by Shropshire County Council. If the School were to be closed and a new one rebuilt out of the "Capital money pot" they have, it would NEVER be as good as the school which is ONNY.

Tina Archer
It's an absolute outrage that this is being done to our wonderful rural schools. It's not just schools at stake it is whole communites. This would rip our village apart. At Hope school we have been told our children could be farmed out to 3 different schools, all with treacherous routes during the winter months. The children do not want to be separated and they are devasted that their lovely school which is like an extended family is at risk. We must all fight, fight, fight, to keep our schools going!!!

parent
Welshampton School is next door to a busy main road,this is No excuse for closure!Cockshutt School sits on a main road and this will prove more dangerous as the children from Welshampton are filtered between this school and others eventually .The amount of parents that drive to school will be parking on the main road of which will cause very hazardous situation for the children.They need to look at the schools with bullies poor academic scoring not one with Excellence and is basically full.The next thing will be too much emissions within Shropshire!

Sarah Smith
As a former pupil of Cheswardine Primary School (left July 2000), I was shocked and upset to discover it is facing possible closure. I strongly believe that this rural village school has given me the best possible start in education. I was able to thrive within a welcoming, enthusiastic and happy environment which helped me greatly as a shy child who lacked self confidence. The fact that it is a smaller school should be praised as it allowed me and I’m sure many others, to find my feet and take advantage of smaller class sizes allowing for a more focused and rewarding learning experience. The school is and always has been the focus of the village, it is impossible to imagine Cheswardine without it. I find it unbelievable that these measures are even being considered. Rural schools should be valued for providing a vital role in the community and not dismissed in this way. If the school was no longer there, with its strong links within the village, what would happen to Cheswardine and its community spirit? Don’t let it disappear, save Cheswardine Primary School!

Jayne
Farlow School is an out standing school with excellent teaching standards and happy, confident children. Their approach to learning is positive and they provide a safe, secure environment where the children are able to grow as individuals and are not just numbers on a piece of paper. Over the years I have experienced what the school has to offer in many ways. I was firstly a pupil at the school and remember the enjoyable years I spent there and I myself benefitted from being in a rural school where all my needs were met. I then worked for a lady who sent her three children to Farlow and found them to be bright, polite children and I was always welcome at the school as Nanny to the children. I now work as a teaching assistant at the school and since I started I have been made to feel part of a successful team whose aim and focus is the education and welfare of all the children in the school. Aswell as the education of the children I feel as a local resident of Farlow that the knock on effect to the community will be huge. The school regularly uses the local village hall for school productions, our christmas party and our annual fete and show. We also gather at the local church for services at easter, harvest, christmas, end of term and rememberance day. Something must be done to stop these closures happening.

David
Can I ask publically on this site 1) What Capital expenditure has there been in the last 5 years on the schoills which are proposed to close, please include public and charity voluntary projects2) With the choice agenda were parents currently sending children to school for the first time told before the applications were due (in mid jan) that the schools of their choice may be closing.3) Is this good governance?Lets have answersIll cc Philip Dunne

Jane Pearce
For the sake of our children and community small rural Schools, like Farlow CE need to be saved to preserve educational standards.

Josie Easter (James)
The closure of Church Preen will have drastic effects on some of the pupils. The school like many other rural schools is set in the heart of the countryside, Where upon it being a wonderful enviroment for our children to learn. This opourtunity is going to be taken away. No more choice! Children learn well if the enviroment around them is a happy one. I worked at Church Preen for 11 years and the whole enviroment was superb. The first class team work of dedicated staff and the committed parents along with happy children, drove Church Preen through its ups and downs of all the changes that the education system has gone through over the last 10 years. Church Preen threatened closure in 1962, but again with the dedicated staff and parents it remained open. If these lovely rural schools close due to lack of goverment funding, What is going to happen in the next 20 years when the present day schools are going to be jam packed? Its fact that families are getting increasingly larger and we have more and more asylum seekers entering into our country, these children are all entitled to an education. Not everyone wants their children educated in towns, where the everyday day sounds are; POLICE SIRENS,LORRIES, SPEEDING CARS MOTORBIKES AND THE LIST IS ENDLESS.A far cry from the sounds you hear at a rural school. THE JINGLE JANGLE OF THE MILK MAN, BIRDS SINGING. THE TROT GALLOP OF A HORSE AND RIDER, THE TRANQUILITY THE SILENCE. My three children moved from a town to be taught at Church Preen school and it was the best move they ever made. Not only will these closures effect the children but what about the villagers? At christmas these small schools would preform their Nativity Play in the local church and the whole community would come together. This will be no more. No more community spirit. I am hopeful that some of these schools that are being threatened will fight closure. We must fight!!!! Josie Easter (James)

Eleanor
Kinlet School.They have no right to do this, the school is what holds the village together, they are destroying communities.Kinlet it a wonderful school which has been there since 1843, Jane Brown the headteacher along with all her wonderful teaching staff do a fantastic job, I should know as our eldest daughter started off in an inner city school and we purposely moved to give our children a better life, this closure makes me feel sick, how can councillors predict the future, they have no right to bulldoze through our beautiful rural villages like this.LEAVE US ALONE,cut your business expenses instead of our Schools.

Joy Webberley
How can the closure of Myddle School be justified! It is a brilliant school, the facilities are excellent, the teachers are outstanding. Closing our school will rip the heart out of our community!!!

Rob Steele
I think that the closures are madness. Smaller Rural areas need a scaled funding to allow childred to be tought in their own catchment area. Closures have already taken their toll by increasing class sizes in other schools. Higher class sizes, less focus on childred, less resources all lead to a poorer education for our childred. Let the people have their say. Shropshire Council. Stop wasting money and focus expenditure on crime, education and facilities. This is why we voted you in. Start listening !!!!!

Andrew Woodall
Very sad news, hopefully the schools can fight this until the end. I've started a group on facebook called 'Save Shropshires Small Schools' to try and raise more attention.

Mark Lowndes
The council have said that they children's educational needs come first but this is plainly not the case. Many of the small schools are top performers and children will be transferred to worse performing schools. We're urging all parents, staff and children affected to make their feelings known at the Council cabinet meeting next Wednesday 30th January at 9.30 at the Shire Hall in Shrewsbury and ask them to throw these proposals out now.

david evans
I worked at Onny as a teaching assistant for two years and think the decision to close such a dynamic, caring and successful school an absolute disgrace.Who decrees that big is best.? Councillors vote for these ludicrous proposals at your peril.

Colin RXIT
Regardless of your Politics, it is very difficult to disagree with Owen Patterson's comment. Central Funding has swung far too much in favour of City Schools at the expense of our rural schools. What can we do to support him in demanding a fairer distribution? There is no need for higher taxes - they just need to be spent more fairly. What can we do?

Clare Ratcliff
I am a parent whose 3 children were pupils at Farlow school. They all recieved an excellent, balanced, happy education and have all gone on to be successful responsible young adults. The school is the focus of the local community and as such offers much more than just a primary school function.With so many problems faced by numerous schools in this country it is difficult to understand the logic of threatening the one outstanding and successful area of education, namely high achieving, successful, inclusive rural primary schools. They are flagships for the English education system!The welfare implications for small children being forced to travel long distances by bus every day are significant.I wonder how many councillors would feel it was appropriate to put a 4/5 year old, on a bus for 30 - 45 minutes twice a day, in varying weather and often in darkness?At a time when we are trying to support and strengthen rural communities, closing the only place which provides a natural focus, will do more damage to those of us trying to live and work in the countryside than anything else. Rural primary schools are definitely worth fighting hard for and I expect councillors to be amazed by the size and strength of opposition to these proposed closures.

Julie Cooper
Even though I no longer have children of school age, I still feel this is a step backwards. It seems that yet again 'rural counties' suffer at the expense of Westminster!