The public consultation on the proposed Almondbury schools merger has been branded “a complete whitewash”.
Protesters against the plan claim the process was flawed and parents’ overwhelming rejection of the scheme has been ignored.
Parents and campaigners have reacted angrily after seeing documents prepared for Kirklees Cabinet next Tuesday.
Despite data showing that 86% of parents who responded are opposed to the proposal for a through school on the Almondbury High site, council officers are recommending that the scheme goes to the next stage.
Advisory teacher Becky Donkersley, organiser of the parents’ Facebook campaign, said: “Parents are really disappointed with the council report. It is flawed and doesn’t represent the true response from parents.
“What is said in the summary is in direct opposition to the data. Kirklees has denied this was a box-ticking exercise, but this proves that it was. The whole thing is a complete whitewash.”
Almost 400 people responded to the public consultation, which ended two months ago and more than half were parents of children at the area’s four schools.
Some 75% said they were “strongly opposed” to the scheme, with a further 11% being “opposed.”
The report states: “Supportive comments emphasise the opportunities for young people, cohesive and inclusive practice and benefits of the community.”
Parents are particularly incensed about the following statement, which they claim is completely untrue: “The majority of comments questioning or opposing the proposals concern important building, organisational and operational details that would be fully resolved during the planning stage before implementation.”
They have held meetings with MP Barry Sheerman and even had a meeting with a specialist independent educationalist.
She added: “Some Kirklees officials have not engaged properly with parents. They have a path and we are in their way, but they are determined to push ahead with this.
“We are calling on Kirklees Cabinet members to stand up next Tuesday and take note of what the local community is saying.”
She added that not every member of the Facebook group was opposed to the merger, but there was a high level of dissatisfaction with how Kirklees had handled the matter.
Clr Cath Harris, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Through the consultation some people have expressed concerns about younger and older children sharing the same building, but we can assure everyone that this would not be an issue at all.
“The facilities would be completely suitable for all. In fact, there would bring advantages and opportunities that are not currently available to local children.
“No decisions have been made about going ahead with the all-through school, but naturally we have to plan ahead.
“We will continue working closely with the schools in Almondbury, who share our goal of helping every child fulfil their potential.”
The proposal would bring together Greenside Infant and Nursery School, Almondbury Junior School and Almondbury High School on one site.
Plans for a new primary school in the grounds of Royds Hall High look set to move forward.
The results of the six-week public consultation for an all-through school on the Luck Lane site at Paddock were broadly positive. The new school would cater for children aged four to 16.
The council received 629 replies from the public, only 16% of whom said they opposed the scheme. This is in stark contrast to Almondbury, where 86% of responders were opposed to the plans for a merger to create an all-through school.
Kirklees Cabinet members will discuss both plans at their next meeting on Tuesday, January 28. The recommendation is for them to take the next step in making the Royds Hall plan a reality.
The proposal comes at a time when there is unprecedented pressure for school places, particularly in the HD3 area. The last 12 years has seen a 20% increase in the Kirklees school population.
Royds Hall High School currently has 880 pupils aged 11 to 16. Under the scheme, a new primary school would be built in the grounds. It would have an intake of 30 reception class pupils a year, starting this September. This would last for seven years until the primary school had its full complement of 210 pupils in September, 2020.
The public consultation could be deemed a victory for pupil power, as 75% of all respondents were current Royds Hall students and only one in seven of them didn’t like the idea of being joined by a primary school. Parents and carers only accounted for one in 12 of the replies and there was more opposition from them, with over a quarter being opposed to the plan.
The overall results of the consultation were: Strongly Support The Proposal – 19%, Support – 28%, Neither Support Nor Oppose – 30%, Oppose – 8%, Strongly Oppose – 8% and Don’t Know – 7%.
If Cabinet members back the recommendation, the next step is the publication of legal notices, with another opportunity for the public to view and comment on the proposals before a final decision is made.