Joy as three schools link up to form a federation

Three schools in South Staffordshire have joined forces and formed a federation – putting an end to fears one could be closed.

Bilbrook Middle, Perton Middle and Codsall Community High now share the same governing body.

Current Codsall headteacher Marjorie Tunnicliffe has been named as the executive headteacher of all three schools and will take charge from April. It comes after education bosses at Staffordshire County Council decided not to close Bilbrook Middle.

Proposals to close the school were scrapped last year amid furious protests from parents, staff and local councillors.

A public consultation was then launched into forming a federation.

Mrs Tunnicliffe said today: "I'm very pleased with how the consultation went. Not many people attended the meetings which shows they were happy with the new proposals."

Bilbrook Middle and Perton Middle were already in a federation. Current executive headteacher of both schools, Mrs Frances Burgess, is planning to retire in April.

Education bosses at the county council announced proposals to close Bilbrook Middle in May last year. But they scrapped the plans in July following a campaign in the community to keep the school open. Hundreds of consultation letters were then sent out to parents across the district and a host of meetings held.

Former chair of governor sat Perton and Bilbrook, Roger Timbrell, said: "All the responses we received were positive towards what we were proposing.

"The community is clearly in support of what we are doing. We are very pleased this option has been agreed. It's not just because Bilbrook Middle will stay open but we feel this is the best solution for everyone."

Each school will have a deputy headteacher to deal with the day-to-day runnings of the school. The federation was launched yesterday. Mrs Tunnicliffe added: " The aim is to ensure all three schools are rated outstanding in two or three years."