The Marches Academy Trust, which runs Idsall School in Shifnal, has written to the planning inspector hearing the Albrighton South appeal. Chief executive Sarah Finch said the trust would expand Idsall where additional places are required, describing this as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to building a new secondary school in Albrighton.
The trust said expansion would make use of an established school and existing facilities, and that it wanted to keep playing an active part in providing school places across Shropshire. The letter did not say how many extra pupils Idsall could take.
The developer's response
Boningale Developments' proposal includes land for a new secondary school. Its education consultant, Kerrie Norman of Flinders Chase, called the trust's letter generic. She said the school is already full, that the head teacher has publicly opposed expansion, and that the only realistic places to build are the car park and playing fields, which would bring in Sport England requirements and traffic concerns. She argued Idsall could not take all the extra demand, so a school site should be safeguarded.
Why it matters
School places were one of the main arguments at the inquiry. Shropshire Council told the inquiry that Albrighton would not produce enough pupils for a secondary school of a sustainable size, and that pupils would continue to go to Idsall.
Sources
This story was written by Albrighton.org.uk from the reports above. Spotted an error? Let us know.