‘Schools will have to close’

PARENTS have been warned to expect school closures – despite millions of pounds of investment coming to Kirklees.

Clr Jim Dodds, cabinet member with responsibility for education, made his remarks as he outlined plans for the future.

He said: “We’ve asked the Government for £220m from the Building Schools for the Future programme and should find out next month how much we are getting.

“This is a massive opportunity for the next 10 to 20 years. We hope the investment will mean that parents don’t have to look further than their nearest school for their children.”

But Clr Dodds added politicians of all parties would have to work together to shape future education in the district.

He said: “It’s no secret that there are too many schools in Kirklees so there will be closures.

“There will be tension with parents, teachers and governors and that’s why I want to get an all-party vision for the future.”

Clr Dodds’s comments came as he outlined his priorities for the year ahead at a Kirklees Council scrutiny meeting yesterday.

The Cabinet member for children and young people’s services added that the new building programme may not include an independently-run school.

Clr Dodds said: “The emphasis on academies has dropped drastically from Government.”

He also said recent Key Stage results showed Kirklees schools were closing the gap on the national figure at English, maths and science.

Clr Dodds singled out Fartown High for particular praise. He said: “There are 1,300 children in the catchment area but only 500 on the school’s books. We have to address this because the school is doing really well.”

But the news from All Saints Catholic College in nearby Bradley Road was less encouraging.

Clr Dodds said: “We’re in discussions with the Roman Catholic diocese about the future of the school because the results haven’t been the best.”

Later today, councillors will debate the future of education in the Whitcliffe Mount area of Cleckheaton.

There are proposals to scrap the existing three-tier education system and replace it with a two-tier scheme.