Row over future of doomed school site

Kirkless Council’s cabinet has approved plans to shut down Birkenshaw Middle School in 2013 as part of move away from a three-tier school system to one where pupils attend only primaries and secondaries.

The council is also considering relocating Birkenshaw First School onto the middle school site as it turns into a primary.

This has angered parent campaigners who want to open their own free school on the same site.

The Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal Parents Alliance (BBGPA) have already had ministerial backing for their plan to open a new 11- 16 free school in the middle school building. However this will be dealt a blow if Kirklees Council continues to use the site as a primary school. The BBGPA has accused the council of planning to move the first school onto the middle school site in order to block their free school bid .

Kirklees Council wants to scrap the three-tier school system known as the Whitcliffe Mount pyramid because it means pupils have to change schools twice during their education and face more disruption. It originally planned to extend Birkenshaw First School on its existing site to allow it to become a primary school however a national capital funding scheme which could have paid for this has been scrapped. The cabinet has been told it would be cheaper to move the first school to the Birkenshaw Middle site.

Coun Peter O’Neill, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Our focus is on achieving the best possible system with the resources available to us. The needs of local children are our very clear priority.”

If Birkenshaw Middle closes secondary aged pupils would relocate to Whitcliffe Mount in Cleckheaton while primary pupils would stay at their first schools as they are converted into primaries.