COUNCILLORS have been told to hand over 10 schools to the Church of England.

The Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education has asked Kirklees Council to transfer ownership of sites across the district.

Local authorities have a legal duty to provide premises for Church of England schools – and then to pass the property over to the church.

The diocese has asked for the transfer of:

Almondbury CE Infant and Nursery School

The nursery building and caretaker’s house at Batley CE Junior, Infant and Nursery School

Dryclough CE Infant School and Crosland Moor Junior School

Gomersal St Mary’s First and Nursery School

Headfield CE Junior School in Dewsbury

Headlands CE Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Liversedge

Lindley CE Infant School

Overthorpe CE Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Dewsbury – excluding the children’s centre

St Thomas’s CE Primary School in Bradley

Whitechapel CE Primary School in Cleckheaton.

The transfer would include caretakers’ houses, access areas, parking and playgrounds. However, playing fields would remain in the hands of the council.

The council’s Labour Cabinet will decide whether to transfer the property at a meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall from 4pm next Tuesday.