Reprieve hope for at-risk school

City of Leeds School in Hyde Park had been threatened with the axe primarily because of its failure to meet exam performance targets set by the last Government, but now education chiefs are recommending it stays open.

Coun Penny Ewens (Lib Dem, Hyde Park and Woodhouse), a governor at the school, last night welcomed the news after months of fighting by parents, staff, community leaders, governors and local councillors.

She said: "Local people have done a tremendous job in fighting this closure – this is their victory. I never believed for a minute that children should be bussed out to multiple schools in other areas of the city.

"That would have been a tragedy not only for the pupils but also for the wider community.

"Education is about more than targets. It is about personal development and individualised opportunity. Arbitrary national targets set in 2008 showed absolutely no regard for the progress made by staff and pupils at City of Leeds.

Councillors will however be asked to confirm the closure of Primrose High in Burmantofts and Parklands Girls High, Seacroft, the only girls' school in Leeds, and reopen them as academies from next September.

Leeds City Council's executive board will meet on Wednesday and consider recommendations by Education Leeds to maintain a school for 11- to 16-year-olds at City of Leeds and establish new governance arrangements by September 2011.

A report to members of the council says: "This report details the representations received in response to those notices and the options considered with key stakeholders.

"It recommends retaining an 11-16 school on the site, and the establishment of new governance arrangements by September 2011 at the latest, with a refreshed vision which fuses the contribution of keypartners and which is focused on maximising the progression of learners."

An earlier public consultation revealed the school was valued by the young people who attend and their parents.

However, a project team agreed any school on the site would need to see improvements made quickly and would need to secure a broader confidence in future stability, quality and effectiveness.

City of Leeds School had failed to hit the former Government's benchmark of 30 per cent of students achieving five GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths. Last year only 12 per cent hit the target.

Yesterday Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said: "We have always said that we will do whatever it takes to make each and every one of our schools the best it can be. There is no doubting that City of Leeds has the full support of the local community, staff and pupils who are committed and passionate about it.

"These recommendations represent the best of the many suggestions that have been put regarding the school's future. They will build on the passion and commitment of young people, staff, governors, the community and the school's partners and will help to ensure that every young person who attends can benefit"

The, executive board member for children's services, Coun Judith Blake, said last night: "There has been a lot of support from parents, governors, staff and pupils surrounding this school and I want to praise them for the work and commitment they have all shown."