Yorkshire mother at forefront of schools revolution

The West Yorkshire mother's work towards parents opening their own state school for children in Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal has seen her hailed as a hero by Tory Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove.

And the campaign has been highlighted by the Tories as an example of how they aim to revolutionise the country's education system by making it easier for parents, teachers and community groups to open their own schools.

Mrs Woods, who works as an adult skills tutor, has dismissed the idea of her being a hero but does hope the fight to get a new school opened in her community will inspire parents' groups across the country.

She is one of nine parents who formed the Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal Parents Alliance (BBGPA) in an attempt to get Kirklees Council to open a secondary school in their community. Now they are fighting to run a state school themselves.

"I don't see myself as a hero but when you believe in something and when you are fighting the establishment you don't want to give up," she said.

"I think when Michael Gove said this he was talking about the nine of us but just chose to single one of us out."

Their campaign was launched after Kirklees Council announced plans to move schools in the area from a three-tier system of first, middle and high schools to a two-tier system with primary and secondaries.

This involves closing Birkenshaw Middle School and relocating pupils to primary and secondary schools elsewhere. The BBGPA believes it would mean communities would be pulled in separate directions, children having to go to schools in Batley, Cleckheaton or into neighbouring Leeds and Bradford.

The group's fight took on a new lease of life when they met with education charity, the New Schools Network, which helps parents to establish their own schools.

"We realised that the council had made their decision but that there had to be another option," Mrs Woods said.

"At this meeting with the New Schools Network we realised we could open our school and when we were approached by Serco offering to help us put together our bid it made us realise that we really could do this."

Mrs Woods became involved in the campaign because her children, aged eight and 11, would be affected by the lack of a secondary school in Birkenshaw. She told the Yorkshire Post, however, the parents who formed the BBGPA would remain involved in the project even after their children had finished school.

"I'm not just doing this for myself and my children. Everyone in the community wants this school and it has brought the community together."

Their bid to open their own 900-place secondary school on the grounds of Birkenshaw Middle School was rejected by Schools Secretary Ed Balls earlier this year, after an independent report suggested it would leave neighbouring schools with surplus places.

But Mr Gove has pledged to give the group his support if he becomes the next Schools Secretary. Mr Gove wants to follow the system used in Sweden where parents and teachers have been able to establish their own state school if they are unhappy with the existing choice on offer.

Mrs Woods said: "None of us were political before we started this and we are not a political group but obviously we have supported the Tories because of what it would mean for us.

"We are optimistic. You have to be when you have had as many

disappointments as we have, you have to have belief and the

determination to keep going."