Campaigns
29/06/2009
Primary Schools for the Future - Hightown
Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood is campaigning to keep both schools in Hightown open as Kirklees Council consults on options for primary school re-organisation in the village.
Mike Wood said: "Having assessed the council's proposals, spoken with key people in some of the schools, looked at the detailed pupil forecasts and spoken with Kirklees education department officers I have a number of initial observations.
- The options presented are lacking in detail
- There are insufficient options presented for consultation
- The pupil forecast figures are unreliable and do not reflect any joined up relationship with housebuilding targets across Kirklees or increasing birth rates
- The financial implications/costings are described by Kirklees as ‘loose'
- Kirklees is resistant to anything other than whole class entry arrangements
- Not enough regard has been paid whatsoever to existing identity or the principles of safeguarding and enhancing sustainable communities
- In fact, the process is seen to be fermenting community discord.
"It is my view that Kirklees should have presented an additional option - in this case one that represented the status quo. There must be some serious consideration given to keeping both schools open, one way or another.
"Parental preference is an important and influential factor in Hightown. Presenting options that do not acknowledge this issue or seek to mitigate the affects it could have is far from ideal.
Mr Wood added: "I will be submitting this to Kirklees and lobbying for it to be adopted. I hope this would find favour in the community while on an educational point I believe it is as sound as the other options presented."
Click here to read Mr Wood's full proposal.
