Parents and pupils protest at closure of Castle Hall school in Mirfield

Jun 11 2009 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CONCERNED parents and children will join hands around their school in protest against its closure.

The group aim to increase pressure on Kirklees Cabinet to scrap plans to close Castle Hall School in Mirfield.

The Council is due to post statutory notices of closure on the Richard Thorpe Avenue school on June 19.

The same day members of the community will hold hands in a chain around the school against the controversial plans.

Parent Karen Rowling said: “It’s symbolic – like giving the school a great big hug.

“But it’s also a way of saying ‘hands off our school’.”

Mrs Rowling has a daughter in Year 7 at Castle Hall who has grown in confidence and is doing well in her exams.

Mrs Rowling added: “We can win this, but to do so we need the support of the whole community.

“We have many public events and demonstrations planned, the more people that come out in support, the stronger we become.”

Mrs Rowling and other parents founded the Retain Education at Castle Hall (REACH) campaign against the move.

The public are invited to the protest on the school’s field on June 19 at 3.30pm.

Alan Wilkinson, who has two daughters at the school, said: “During the first consultation, the community rallied together, showing a united front in support of retaining two excellent secondary schools in Mirfield.