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.”

Despite this, in their report to the Cabinet, council officers are recommending the scheme goes forward to the publication of statutory notices.

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.”

According to Becky, parents’ major concern has always been the educational implications of the merger.

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 are looking at everything with the children’s best interests uppermost in our thoughts. Going ahead with these proposals would need significant investment by the council, but our priority is to achieve the best possible educational standards for current and future pupils.

“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.