Emergency church schools meeting to discuss proposed closures

Church officials have arranged a meeting in Shropshire today, to discuss radical changes which will affect dozens of primary schools.

The meeting comes as Shropshire County Council reviews its primary schools, and reports have emerged that a number could be closed because of funding pressures.

The head teachers' meeting will take place at Rushbury Village Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaking ahead of the meeting the Diocese of Hereford said it wanted to make a "robust" response to the authority's proposals.

The Church has a great influence in education in the south Shropshire area, aiding or controlling 42 church schools in the region.

Tuesday's meeting will see head teachers, as well as Chairs of governors and local clergy attend.

Ian Terry, director of education for the Hereford Diocese, said there was "a lot of concern" about the proposals from the Shropshire authority.

"We take our responsibility for primary education in Shropshire very seriously and believe it's important to make a robust and realistic response to the local authority's proposals," he said.

Shropshire has experienced a decline in numbers of those attending schools in the county. It is estimated that following the current trend, by 2012 there will be 3,500 fewer children in primary schools in the area than there were in 2001.