Sites named in new report
MULTI-MILLION pound plans for a flagship academy in Huddersfield is threatening the future of three schools.
All Saints Catholic College at Bradley Bar, Fartown High School and Rawthorpe High School could face the axe or be merged under plans for a new super school.
Kirklees Council applied and has been selected for the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme.
The council put forward plans to create two new academies in Kirklees, costing up to £200m - one in Batley and the other in Huddersfield.
The money for the project would come from the council, private business partners and the government.
New council papers, which were put together for the Town Hall's education cabinet committee meeting on Monday, say the location of an academy in south Kirklees is being considered alongside options for the futures of the three school named above.
In north Kirklees the future of four schools in Batley - the Girl's High School, Business & Enterprise College, Birkdale High and Madni - are under review.
The building of an academy in Batley could begin in just two years. In Hudderfield the date could be up to a decade.
Cabinet member for education Clr Jim Dodds said nothing had been decided.
He added: "There are lots of options at the moment.
"It could be that one or two schools are closed or merged. There are any number of permutations which have to be looked at."
Clr Dodds, who represents Denby Dale, said he understood some people would be unhappy at the proposals.
He added: "I have no doubt that not everyone will agree with what we come up with.
"But we want to try and get cross-party agreement at our level to ensure that what we start gets finished. There has been no decision taken yet. When we have proposals there will be a thorough consultation."
Nationally, there are 46 academies in areas of social deprivation and low educational standards. They are usually sponsored by businesses, faith or community groups.
