Major changes affecting schools in Almondbury, Paddock, Denby Dale and Golcar have been backed.

Almondbury and Royds Hall Community School will become all-through schools, even though many opposed plans for the Almondbury schools.

A consultation will also take place to merge Beech School with Royds Hall; and Denby Dale Nursery will relocate and merge with Gilthwaites First School.

Clr Cath Harris, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The sole focus of Almondbury all-through school was high quality education.

“It has some of the best facilities in Kirklees - it’s a modern building in a very good place.”

Almondbury Lib Dem Clr Linda Wilkinson read a letter from parent Becky Donkersley who said parents were dismayed at a “lack of engagement”.

She urged the council to appoint an executive head to the new school who has experience of such a massive change.

Kirklees leader, Clr David Sheard, thanked Mrs Donkersley for taking the time to note views, even though he didn’t share all of them.

Clr Harris said of the relocation of nursery provision in Denby Dale: “Stand alone nursery school offer is vulnerable in light of the government’s funding preferences. This is about trying to ensure provision is sustainable and ensure fewer transitions in pupils’ school life so they move through education smoothly without losing momentum.”

Clr Andrew Marchington, Golcar Lib Dem, backed Cabinet in the Beech merger with Royds Hall and said: “I feel this is a really good outcome for children”.

Royds Hall Community School
Royds Hall Community School

Cabinet decisions in full are:

Almondbury: to discontinue Greenside IN School and Almondbury Junior School, lower age limit and expand Almondbury High School into a super school for 1,220 pupils aged three-16 year old pupils.

Key stage one pupils will be based at the current Greenside school, key stage two pupils will relocate to the high school, with separate classrooms, toilets, dining facilities and play area from key stage three and four pupils.

Kirklees to borrow £1.3m to reorganise and refurbish the high school, the loan will cost them £95,000 every year for 20 years.

Work will be done by February 2015 and Cabinet will consider options for the vacant school site later this year.

Paddock: All-through school at Royds Hall Community School for pupils aged 4-16 years.

The £5.5m plan will see one reception class added to the school each year from September, creating a full primary in seven years. On a temporary basis space in the Old Mansion House will be used.

The new primary will be built on the playing field in front of the main Grade II listed building, potentially opening in 2016.

Drop-off and parking facilities are included in the plans.

Kirklees to use government grant for the £5.5m work.

Golcar: Public consultation backed for a potential merger of Royds Hall Community School and Beech Early Years, Infant and Junior School.

Beech would technically close but remain on its current school site as an annex of Royds Hall.

Cabinet to consider public feedback in June and implementation, if backed, in January 2015.

Denby Dale: Merger of Denby Dale Nursery School and Gilthwaites First School, expansion of the Gilthwaites site for 189 children aged two to 10. A statutory four week representation period underway and Cabinet will make its final decision in July. If backed, it will be implemented by January 2015.

Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

To follow us on Twitter click here