Council chiefs have voted unanimously to close Shrewsbury’s Wakeman School in August 2013.
The hammer blow was dealt at a meeting of Shropshire Council’s cabinet yesterday, Wednesday, but headteacher Karen Moore said pupils, parents and staff have not yet given up their fight to secure the Wakeman’s future.
Some of the parents of pupils at Wakeman school joined in the protest.
She said the school may explore the option of moving out of local authority control.
A statutory six-week consultation period will begin on May 16, with a final decision due to be made by cabinet on July 20. If the school closes, pupils would be transferred to Meole Brace School.
Around 20 pupils and staff from the Wakeman were present at yesterday’s meeting to make their feelings known, with pupils setting up their desks outside Shirehall complete with protest banners.
During a lengthy debate, numerous councillors spoke in favour of keeping the school open, with Councillor Nigel Hartin citing an 8,000-name petition as being a testament to the community’s opposition to its closure.
Cllr Hartin then pleaded with cabinet to call off making a decision yesterday in order to avoid what he feared could be a horrible mistake.
But cabinet agreed to push ahead with its proposal to close the school, with Aggie Caesar-Homden, portfolio holder for children and young people’s services, saying no change was not an option due to high numbers of unfilled places and low numbers of applications to join the Wakeman.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Mrs Moore said the decision was ‘not unexpected’.
“We are going to keep fighting and staff, students and the PTA are all behind the campaign,” she said. “We’re going to be making more representations to the council and are considering our next move. We might be looking to move altogether out of local authority control.
Wakeman pupils had a French lesson outside Shirehall.
“It is not the end,” she added.
Meanwhile, councillors have agreed to amalgamate Shawbury Primary School and St Mary’s Primary but delayed a decision on what site to use until July.
The meeting heard that more ‘detailed examination’ with the community was needed to decide on which site should be used and that a feasibility study could be carried out. Parents and governors said St Mary’s had a proud heritage and was boosted by facilities at the nearby RAF base.
But representatives from Shawbury primary claimed their site was the hub of the village and had excellent provision for disabled students.
Cabinet unanimously backed closure of Stiperstones Primary School as the Chronicle went to press. Full story next week.
by Charlotte Hester and Catherine Ferris