School threatened (From Malvern Gazette)

School threatened

11:00am Sunday 17th February 2013 in News

CONCERNED parents and residents turned out in force to show their support for a village school threatened with closure.

About 100 people attended a public meeting on Wednesday to hear from representatives of Herefordshire Council about their plans for the future of Whitbourne CE Primary School.

Parents and staff were devastated by an announcement that dwindling pupil numbers had put the school in jeopardy.

Because of the way schools are funded, it has been predicted this will leave Whitbourne with a £35,000 shortfall in its budget for 2013/14.

However, campaigners are fighting to save the 160-year-old school and seeking alternative ways of enabling it to carry on.

Ideas put forward so far include increasing the use of volunteers and applying for it to become an academy or free school.

Anna Marshall, a member of Whitbourne’s PTFA whose two children attend the school, said the latter options would take time to investigate, but it was hoped the school could be kept open in the short-term by bridging the funding gap.

Another meeting is set to take place next week to allow parents, villagers and other interested parties to discuss options for the school.

Details and updates can be found on the campaign Facebook page titled Save Whitbourne CE Primary School.

A decision is set to be made on the school’s future next month.