Rescue plan to save blind school

The school is due to close in phases by July 2005

A rescue plan to save part of a Shropshire school for the blind and deaf has been put on hold.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), which runs Condover Hall, decided the school was no longer viable and would be closed in July 2005.

But parent governor Steve McGill has put forward a plan to keep open Condover's adult education centre, which caters for up to 20 students.

The RNIB has deferred a decision on the plan while it considers the details.

Mr McGill wants to run the adult education centre and said it was a valuable provision, but the RNIB's executive decided to defer a decision at a meeting on Thursday.

"These are young people aged between 19 and 24 who can carry on their education there after leaving special schools," Mr McGill said.

"But they are people with very profound needs, who need every opportunity to prepare themselves for their lives ahead and realise their potential, and there is very little alternative provision anywhere in the country, really."

The school, which is one of three in England to teach both blind and deaf children and adults, is due to close in phases by July 2005.

Students are being moved to a new school near Coventry.