CONTROVERSIAL plans which would shut several Kirklees schools were revealed by the Examiner yesterday.

A huge plan outlining massive changes for education in Mirfield, Dewsbury, Batley and other towns in north Kirklees was put forward for consultation.

But the plans – said to cost £500m – have already been condemned.

Under the proposals, due for debate at next week’s meeting of the council’s Conservative Cabinet, 11 schools could close – among them Castle Hall High School in Mirfield.

Conservative plans would also see the shutdown of Birkdale High School and Westborough High School, with a site being developed for a proposed new Academy for North Kirklees.

Four Middle schools – Birkenshaw,. Gomersal CE, West End and Whitechapel – would also shut as the council plans to return to a two tier system, with children changing school only at the age of 11.

Posters expressed mystification on examiner.co.uk’s forums.

Mowdiwarp said: “What benefits, if any, will these proposals bring and are these changes motivated purely on cost grounds, not educational benefits, I wonder?”

Lindsey said: “I fail to believe this decision is made for educational reasons, how would they think closing a school would be good for people’s education?

“Everything is about cost these days and sadly the people who are making the decision are (probably) those who have never worked in a school.”

Otis added: “We could save even more money by closing the town halls in Dewsbury, Batley and Huddersfield. Kirklees only needs one. All the functions normally carried out there could be carried out just as well in the Huddersfield Market Hall in the evenings. The anabolic steroid (sic) roof would create some very interesting sound effects for the Hallé.

“I am surprised councillors haven’t proposed this before.”

JohnMooney4 came up with a nifty idea for cutting costs in Kirklees: “I know it’s not the council but we could shut down the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well, there is a perfectly good hospital in Halifax.

“But thinking about it, we don’t need that one either as Leeds has several hospitals that could be leveraged more effectively.

“Accountants are taking over the world and computer spreadsheets are their oracles.”