Academy idea in plan for review of schools

And it could lead to a "super academy" being built in Halifax for children aged three to 18 – and even a school for Muslims.

The review has been brought about by a series of changes and problems in the north Halifax area, which are having a knock-on effect in the rest of the district. Those include:

n The closure of The Ridings at Ovenden.

n The opening of an academy at Holmfield.

n A lack of cash to rebuild St Catherine's Catholic High.

n Turning Park Lane High into a National Challenge Trust School.

n The need to restore or rebuild North Halifax Grammar.

Calderdale Council heard this week that talks had already taken place over the possibility of creating a second academy.

It would cater for three to 18-year-olds in the Mixenden, Illingworth and Ovenden areas and could lead to the closure of some primary schools.

Coun Barry Collins (Lab., Illingworth and Mixenden) said a wide-ranging review of secondary education was vital.

Deputy Mayor Nader Fekri (Lib-Dem., Calder) said he would only back such review if everything was up for grabs.

"If we are going to have a no-holds-barred discussion about such things as Catholic education in Calderdale we must also look at the need for a Muslim secondary school," he said.

Education spokesman Craig Whittaker said there should be a review to produce several proposals. "But this could knock Todmorden High and Calder High School, (two of the borough's most dilapidated schools) off the list of building priorities."

Tory leader Stephen Baines (Northowram and Shelf) said he supported a review providing it did not lead to any reduction in grammar school places.