TWO schools which could lose pupils if a controversial academy expansion plan goes ahead, held open days for potential pupils yesterday.

Shelley College plans to expand in 2014 and accept year 8 and 9 pupils.

But Scissett Middle School and Kirkburton Middle School fear the expansion of Shelley College – now an academy – to 2,100 students will cause them to lose pupils and eventually close.

The schools argue this will have a negative impact on pupils going straight from primary school to high school.

The Scissett and Kirkburton schools say pupils from small village schools will find the transition to a large high school difficult and may underachieve and become lost in the system.

Denby Dale and Kirkburton are one of the few wards in the country that still operate a three-tier – or pyramid – school system. Here pupils graduate from primary to middle to high school, rather than from primary school to high school.

Yesterday Scissett Middle School held a ‘school in action’ event where potential pupils and their parents could tour the school and watch lessons in progress.

Kirkburton Middle School yesterday held an open evening for potential students and their parents.

Both schools hope the evenings will show pupils and parents the advantages smaller middle schools have over larger high schools.