THE education of thousands of children has been thrown into doubt after councillors rejected a £200m school-building plan last night.
Kirklees Council’s ruling Conservatives were told to ditch their proposals or be thrown out of office by Christmas.
In September the Tories announced plans for a radical shake-up of schools in north Kirklees, including closing Castle Hall in Mirfield.
Parents, teachers and governors are being consulted on the plan, which would see 11 schools shut.
The proposal was rejected by 35 votes to 10 at last night’s monthly council meeting.
However, the nine-strong Conservative Cabinet is not bound by the vote and will make the final decision on the matter in January.
Kirklees Cabinet member for schools Clr Jim Dodds Clr Jim Dodds said on Monday that the plan would be looked at “line-by-line”. It had earlier been announced that a decision would be made before Christmas.
The Conservative proposal includes closing Castle Hall by 2013 and transferring pupils to an extended Mirfield Free Grammar School.
Councillors heard from concerned parents and teachers at last night’s meeting.
Mum-of-four Karen Rowling, whose daughter Gemma has just started at Castle Hall, said: “It’s a very successful school and, because it’s small, the teachers know the children by name. I love my children. Is it so wrong to want the best education for them?
“I’m imploring you to use your influence to have these proposals stopped.”
Mirfield Free Grammar head teacher Lorraine Barker said her school didn’t want to absorb Castle Hall.
She said: “Adding 500 students would without doubt adversely effect our ability to remain outstanding. Our site is already tight, we can’t accommodate such growth.
“These proposals are an explosive cocktail.”
Councillors also heard from representatives of Batley Girls’ High, St Luke’s CE First School in Cleckheaton and Birkdale High in Dewsbury, which are all earmarked for closure.
Clr Dodds said: “I’m listening to everyone in this process and I’m not afraid to admit if I get things wrong and I’m not afraid to change my mind.”
Councillors then debated a joint Lib Dem and Labour motion calling on the Conservative Cabinet to withdraw the proposals and have a radical rethink.
Lib Dem leader Clr Kath Pinnock said: “The Conservatives have managed to alienate the vast majority of parents, staff and governors in north Kirklees. The proposals are fundamentally and fatally flawed.”
Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan criticised the fact that a new school is planned for Birkenshaw, the ward of Conservative council leader Clr Robert Light.
Clr Khan said: “The only new school is going to be in the Tory leader’s ward – one of the most affluent parts of Kirklees.”
He added: “We want to see a sixth form college in Dewsbury and I don’t know why these proposals don’t contain that.”
But Clr Dodds said: “Instead of trying to wreck this process, I call upon you to work with me. This is not about you, this is about the future of all the children of north Kirklees.”
Lib Dem deputy leader Clr John Smithson told the minority Conservative administration that their days would be numbered if they pushed ahead with the plans.
He said: “If you haven’t withdrawn these plans by December, we will put down a motion of no confidence in Robert Light and Jim Dodds.
“This is not a threat, it’s a statement.”
Speaking after the meeting, Clr Light said: “The Conservative group is not going to be blackmailed.
“I’m sad that John Smithson has made up his mind before listening to the views expressed in the consultation.”
