GOVERNORS at Shelley College have rubber-stamped a decision to drop a controversial new entry scheme.

And the move by the Academy not to accept Year 7 students from 2014 has been welcomed across the board.

The governors’ decision was backed by local head teachers, Kirklees Council and the area’s MP, Simon Reevell.

College principal John McNally told governors on Tuesday evening that the groundswell of opposition to the current plans and strength of feeling from the local community had prompted his decision to recommend that the plans should be withdrawn.

Mrs Alwyn Cooper, who chairs the Governors, said: “The Governors had to make a decision on how to proceed, based on the information presented to them.

“We have recognised, early in the consultation process that our proposal is clearly not what our local community wants at the present time.

“In examining all the considerations, the governors have agreed to support the principal’s decision to formally withdraw the proposal.

“We will inform the Department of Education of our decision.”

Mr McNally added: “I would like to thank all the people who took the time to express their views and showed how the local community has a key part to play in influencing the education of our children.”

The proposals had attracted a huge amount of opposition with many hundreds of families vehemently opposing the ideas.

As an academy, Shelley College was able to explore its options in changing admission arrangements. If the governors had chosen to do so, they could have applied directly to the government to make a change.