Lib Dems blast schools closure plan

Proposals to close Ingleton Middle School and Settle Middle School in a controversial education shake-up in the area have triggered strong opposition.

A recent consultation document proposes the closure of both schools which currently take pupils from 11 local primary schools at the age of 10.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Polly English, from Skipton, said she could find no rationale for the closures other than as a "cost-cutting exercise."

Coun English said: "The report is poorly researched and does not provide the community with information that is needed. I also object to the fact that pupils have not been consulted. I have asked that the cabinet member take heed of the will of the people of North Craven and give due consideration to rejecting this flawed report.

"Ingleton and Settle schools are not failing schools. They are academically above the North Yorkshire average. How can we have a consultation which offers no alternatives?"

North Yorkshire County Council is consulting on a new model of provision with primary schools serving pupils aged three to 11 or four to 11, with a single secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 at Settle.

Post 16 provision would be provided at Settle College through formal partnership arrangements with other providers.

County Councillor John Watson, North Yorkshire's executive member for schools, said: "In my opinion the report which was the basis of the consultation was expertly written, very readable and thorough.

"Of the formal replies we have had to our formal consultation process – we have had nearly 500 replies – and they are running at 51 per cent in favour of what we are suggesting and 49 per cent against."

A statement from Ingleton Middle School said: "We understand the need to review education in North Craven but feel the current three-tier system and especially the middle schools enable children to develop both academically and socially.

"This view was reinforced by our parents who during the recent public meeting at Ingleton Middle School voiced their support for the current system and their concerns regarding the NYCC proposal.

"This school is an integral part of our community and has provided young people with a middle school education since 1975, but provided primary and secondary education since 1930.

"The loss of this school would have a detrimental impact on the village and this community."

Parents, staff, school governing bodies, unions, parish, town and district councils are among those being consulted.

Under the proposals Settle Middle School and Ingleton Middle School would close from September 2012 and all pupils attending the schools in July 2011 would transfer to Settle College from September 2012.

Settle Middle School buildings and site would become part of Settle College and could be used as a centre for the youngest secondary aged pupils or as a sixth form centre.

Ingleton Middle School buildings and site could be sold on the open market to help fund improvements to secondary provision in Settle.

Alternatively, the building could be made available for other post-16 provision or other community uses.

Under the current system, children transfer twice, from primary to middle school at age 10 and then to Settle College at age 13.

The new system would reduce the number of times children need to change schools and bring North Craven into line with the rest of North Yorkshire and most of the country, the county council has said.