Greenhead High School could move to a new site at Marley as part of a major Government education initiative.

The Keighley News understands that the school could move from its current site in Utley to a completely new campus in the Keighley area.

Marley has been touted as a possible location as sports facilities are already in place at Marley Stadium.

Greenhead head teacher Tricia McCarthy said that the Pathfinder initiative -- which Education Bradford is participating in -- could lead to the enhancement of the current site at Greenhead Road or a move to a new build school.

Education chiefs have so far denied that a move for Greenhead is on the cards -- and yesterday they revealed that a new special school could be built next to Greenhead.

They are proposing the closure of Braithwaite and Branshaw special schools, in Keighley, and the construction of a new secondary special school co-located with Greenhead. Of the possible rebuild Mrs McCarthy said: "There is an opportunity for not just our school, but for schools across Bradford to rebuild or relocate but it is still very, very early days.

"There's no mention that we are going anywhere but it's a possibility for us, as it is for every school.

"They (Education Bradford) have got to look at alternatives as relocating maybe a better alternative, but they will also be looking at redeveloping.

"What is being looked at for every school is the best for the future and bringing school buildings up to the standard where we can provide a modern day education.

"The old part of our school is Victorian and for some children it feels very different to what they are used to. The school has also been added on to and added on to, so it's probably not the best use of space.

"Pathfinder is all about rationalisation and making sure we have the right facilities for the courses we offer."

Mrs McCarthy added that governors from Greenhead and other schools in the district had met for discussions.

A spokesman for Education Bradford said: "There are no plans at the moment to rebuild Greenhead on another site."

Bradford, Sheffield, Greenwich and Bristol have been chosen for the Pathfinder initiative, which also examines ways of financing improvements.

Education Bradford has launched a three-month public consultation after it proposed closing ten special schools, including Braithwaite and Branshaw, and replacing them with six new schools sharing sites with existing mainstream schools, by August 2005.

The plans would see the introduction of three new primary and three new secondary special schools for pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties and those with severe and complex autism.

The location of a special primary school in the Keighley area has not been announced, but a council spokesman told the KN that Crossflatts Primary School had been considered as a possible location.

Education Bradford said the new special schools would provide better opportunities for students in more modern facilities than they are in now.

Hazel Smith, Education Bradford's achievement support manager for special educational needs and inclusion, said: "These proposals represent a unique opportunity to re-shape specialist provision to enable young people with special educational needs to have the best possible learning opportunities and equip them for life in the 21st century."

Mark Pattison, Education Bradford's managing director, added: "We believe these proposals offer an exciting way forward for some of our most needy young people, involving six state-of-the-art special schools. This consultation period will be crucial in testing and refining the ideas."

Public meetings for people in Keighley have been organised at Cougar Park on the following dates:

Monday, July 14: 1.30pm -- parents; 4.30pm -- special school staff; 7pm -- parents.

Monday, September 8: 4.30pm -- teachers, assistants and governors from mainstream schools; 7pm -- voluntary groups.

Monday, September 15: 7pm -- parents of children in mainstream schools.

Tuesday, September 23: 7pm -- open meeting.

The full consultation document is on the Education Bradford web site at www.educationbradford.com