Oakbank School governors say they will not accept Bradford council's proposal for the school.

They are to go ahead with sending their own plans to the Government, defying the Bradford proposals.

the Oakbank governors propose that their school links up with nearby Bront Middle to form a temporary split-site upper school until Bront can become a secondary school in its own right. However, Bradford proposes to close Bront completely and open a new secondary school on the Parkside Middle School site at Cullingworth.

Oakbank says its suggestions would result in two reasonably-sized schools with room for expansion, a partnership sixth form and a good set-up to raise standards. This proposal is to go to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) for a decision.

Oakbank head-teacher John Roberts blasts: "Bradford have listened to us but haven't answered a single one of our questions. Neither Bradford's education committee nor the review team have explained how their plan does not damage post-16 education in Keighley, nor how bussing away 30 per cent of Keighley children helps the town, nor how children will be selected between Oakbank and Parkside, nor how building Parkside is cost-effective compared with adapting Bront."

the Oakbank governors believe Bradford council has not forgiven Oakbank for opting out of council control several years ago to become grant-maintained, thereby becoming directly funded by the Government.

The governors say Bradford has 'held a gun to our heads - sign up or else!' and add that they 'are not willing to comply with a bad plan'.

But the council claims there is evidence indicating a reduction in demand for Keighley places in older age groups. Officials say the planned Cullingworth secondary school would reduce the demand for places at Oakbank by about 90 per cent.

Under the final proposals, Oak-bank is earmarked to become a secondary school catering for pupils aged 11-18 on its current site. Its pupil capacity is set at 1,350 plus post-16 provision and it is to have a standard admission number of 270 children. However, under the initial proposal of April 7, the school's pupil capacity was set at 1,500 plus post-16 provision and the standard admission number was 300.

Oakbank, therefore, will have fewer pupils than originally planned.

Opponents to the cutback claim-ed this loss of 150 pupils would not provide enough secondary places in Keighley, resulting in 30 per cent having to be bussed out of town. They also said the cultural and social diversity of the school community would be put under threat by the proposed new secondary school in Cullingworth on the current Parkside Middle School site.

The Oakbank governors intend to take a delegation to the DfEE in the next few weeks to argue their case.

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