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Plans to close Shropshire's only Catholic high school


Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College

Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College

The Catholic community in Shropshire look set to lose the only Catholic secondary comprehensive school in the county, if council proposals go ahead.

Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College (BRJ) in Wellington, Telford, was named after a Catholic priest from Shropshire who was executed for his faith in 1582, during the reign of Elizabeth I. He was beatified in 1889.

Under the Building Schools For The Future Programme (BSF) there had been plans to rebuild and modernise the school. However, after the government reduced funds to the programme, it seems these plans were shelved. According to council reports, the Diocese of Shrewsbury has agreed to give up the building, transferring the land to Telford and Wrekin Council, and moving BRJ pupils to a new Christian Academy.

A message from headteacher, Robert Hall, on the school website, urges pupils and parents "not to believe everything that you hear or see in the news." He writes: "This is an exciting prospect, but brings with it a degree of uncertainty. It is not correct to say that BRJ is closing.. The proposal is to move BRJ to be part of a much bigger school and Sixth Form, to be supported by both the Catholic and Anglican Churches."

Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "The new proposals will achieve better value for money from the Building Schools for the Future programme while continuing to create high quality learning environments for our young people as well as community facilities for all."

Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College recently had a good Ofsted, in which inspectors praised improvements in many areas. The report said: "One member of staff captured the views of many in describing the college as being 'like part of a family'. The college is a cohesive and harmonious community. The gospel values are very effectively promoted and high quality care is also provided. These strengths explain why many of the personal development outcomes are good."

Many parents, staff and former pupils are concerned that this community life, which has taken years to build up, as well as the Catholic ethos of the school, will be lost in the proposed 1,200 place academy. One person pointed out: "What they don't tell us is that this new school will be on the other side of town from where most pupils that go to BRJ live. The name of the school will change. It will no longer be Catholic."

A consultation event is due to take place at Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College on Monday, 21 November at 6.30pm.



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