A FEDERATION, which could save Maesbury Primary School from closure, is being explored the Advertizer can reveal.
Leading councillors confirmed a meeting between governors from the school and those from Morda Primary School was due to take place yesterday (Monday) to decide if and how the proposal could go ahead.
Last week, Maesbury headteacher, Rosemary Finney explained that the school was in talks with another local primary school as part of their efforts to "explore all avenues" to see the school retained.
The establishment faces closure as part of Shropshire Council's educational reforms, which are currently in the public consultation phase.
Mrs Finney said: "If Maesbury School is to come up with any plans [to stay open] then they need to be done fairly swiftly within the consultation period."
But local Councillor Joyce Barrow has confirmed that a federation, which would see the schools run by one headteacher and a single governing body, did not mean the Maesbury site would be saved.
"At the end of the day, the governors from Maesbury School and myself would like to do whatever it takes to keep the school open," she said.
"We hope that by moving the [consultation] goalposts we can save the school."
During a visit to the school on Friday, North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson said: "It's a very difficult time for everyone delivering any public services, but we have to get the debt down in Shropshire.
"Of course these proposals will affect some schools and it's only right they should fight, but we are hopeful for a good solution."
Mrs Finney added she was pleased that the MP had shown his support for the school's current campaign: "He is hopeful Maesbury School can be kept open and we chatted about the possibility of a federation and if we decide to go down that route he would be supportive of that."
Mr Paterson said the budget deficit had been inherited from the previous government, but they were doing what they could to help.
"Debt doesn't buy equipment for education, we have to work the debt down," he said, but added: "It is not at all easy for the headteachers to make it work."