Fury at Tory plan to axe 11 schools

Sep 13 2008 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

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LABOUR and Liberal Democrat councillors have hit out at plans to axe 11 schools in north Kirklees.

They say plans put forward by Conservative-led Kirklees Council will disadvantage future generations.

The £200m scheme will see some schools in the area expanded – but 11 might close.

It is the first phase of a £500m overhaul which should see every state school refurbished or rebuilt by 2010, as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Schools which might close include Castle Hall, Mirfield, which has several hundred pupils in the town and surrounding area. It could be closed by August 2013.

The students would transfer to an extended Mirfield Free Grammar School.

In Dewsbury, Birkdale High School and Westborough High School could go, with pupils moving to a new academy for north Kirklees.

Four middle schools – Birkenshaw, Gomersal CE, West End and Whitechapel, Cleckheaton – would also shut as Kirklees plans to return to a two- tier system, with children changing school only at the age of 11.

In Batley the Girls’ High School, Visual Arts College and Batley Business and Enterprise College are earmarked to go along with RM Grylls at Liversedge.

Clr Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Labour Group, said one new school in Birkenshaw would not make up for the loss of so many others. He added that children would have to travel further – especially if they want to attend a sixth form.