Pupils and parents link hands around closure threat Castle Hall School

Jun 20 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUNDREDS of protesters formed a human chain around a Kirklees school to campaign against plans to close it.

Pupils, parents, councillors, school staff and other supporters held hands around Castle Hall School’s main building yesterday to show their anger at the council’s proposals to shut down the Mirfield School.

The event, organised by campaign group REACH (Retain Education at Castle Hall), was staged to coincide with yesterday’s posting of notices for the closure of Castle Hall by Kirklees Council.

The issuing of notices marks the start of a six-week period for residents to voice their views about the school’s closure to the council.

The specialist language school, which was earmarked for closure in September 2008, will be absorbed into an expanded Mirfield Free Grammar School.

But, say parents, this will lead to a net loss of 470 school places in the area.

REACH vice-chairman Alan Wilkinson said: “The issue of education in Mirfield and Ravensthorpe has become a political football, with councillors supporting or opposing these issues depending upon whether their party is in power or in opposition in Kirklees. There is no educational sense to any of this.

“It is time for our elected members to stop playing at politics, and start to consider the important issues of educational attainment, school ethos, parental choice and specialist college status.”

Mr Wilkinson, who has two daughters at Castle Hall, added: “It is about time the Kirklees officers and cabinet start to listen to the people of Mirfield and Ravensthorpe and understand there is massive public condemnation for their plans for the future of education in Mirfield.”