Pledge from Kirklees schools chief to help

Jan 16 2009 by Hazel Ettienne, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN education chief today vowed to give more help to Kirklees schools which failed to meet national targets.

Clr Jim Dodds made the pledge as figures showed that four local high schools have fallen below the required standard.

But six others which were behind targets last year have now succeeded.

All Saints Catholic College at Bradley Bar, Almondbury High School, Moor End Technology College at Crosland Moor, Newsome High School, Rawthorpe High School and the Community Science College in Thornhill have now met National Challenge standards to ensure 30% of pupils gained at least five A*-to-C grades at GCSEs.

But Birkdale High at Dewsbury, which achieved only 20%, Fartown (13%), Spen Valley at Cleckheaton (26%) and Westborough at Dewsbury (28%) fell short.

Clr Dodds, Kirklees’s Cabinet member for schools, said: “I would like to congratulate the schools that have met the National Challenge target, and in some cases well exceeded the 30% mark.

“I am delighted that six schools that last year were below the 30% mark have made real progress and will hopefully continue to do so.

“There is tremendous commitment in all our schools to raise standards and levels of attainment. It is a credit to all concerned that positive improvements have been achieved and continue to be aspired to. Some of the improvements have been significant.”