MP Barry Sheerman warns of school closures in Huddersfield

Jul 9 2009 By Barry Gibson

MULTI-MILLION pound plans for schools in Huddersfield could see some close.

That was the warning from Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman today as Kirklees Council unveiled their timetable for a £200m revamp of education.

The news comes just days before thousands of parents in north Kirklees learn the fate of their children’s schools.

People in Huddersfield will find out about plans for education later this year – with the town’s MP warning of closures.

Kirklees Council is due to release a £100m plan for high schools in Huddersfield in November or December. A separate £100m proposal for the Colne Valley, Holme Valley and Denby Dale is scheduled for mid-2010.

The council has not yet drawn up plans, but Mr Sheerman warned that some high schools in the town would have to close.

He said: “I suspect there will be some rationalisation because some of the high schools in Huddersfield are very small. Schools with fewer than 700 pupils are uneconomic.”

However, Mr Sheerman added that Kirklees shouldn’t go too far the other way. He said: “There’s a trend towards very big schools which I know causes difficulties. I like schools to be below 1,000.”

Mr Sheerman – who chairs the House of Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families – added that Kirklees had to focus on improving schools in Huddersfield.

He said: “Secondary schools in Huddersfield are below average for educational achievement so we need a bold plan to raise them up to excellent. It’s not about improving this or that school, it’s about improving all schools.”