Parents at a tiny primary school in rural south Shropshire are up in arms over a "surprise closure announcement".The site of Newcastle CE Primary School. Photo: Google Maps
They fear if a so-called"prescribed alteration" to take children to Clunbury CE Primary School - or St Mary’s CE Primary School, in Bucknell - goes ahead then the closure would be inevitable. Mr Swancott said plans first emerged last week and included a meeting where parents were not allowed to ask questions.
"This initial proposal is a significant change to a maintained school and will follow statutory Department for Education regulations for making such changes. In this instance the proposal is to transfer education to a new site. "As a consequence of this, the governing body has taken the decision to also put forward a second proposal to the Local Authority, Shropshire Council, that a separate consultation should take place on the closure of the school site which will be informed by, and take place after, the outcome of this prescribed alteration consultation has been determined."