Keighley parents and pupils flocked to Bradford's City Hall last weekend to protest against two proposed school closures.

Oldfield residents Chris and Kath Clegg and their three sons - Sam, 12, Charles, nine, and Michael, six - were among the 400 demonstrators who marched from Valley Parade to Centenary Square. They carried banners reading 'Save Oldfield School' and 'Save Bront' Middle School'.

The huge outcry stemmed from Bradford council's radical schools review proposals under which Oldfield and Utley First Schools and all middle schools have been earmarked for closure. The council has made the decision to change from a three-tier system to a primary-secondary model but many parents, teachers and governors feel that their pupils' education will be unnecessarily disrupted. Last weekend's event highlighted their concerns and occurred just one week before the end of the consultation period which is today.

Mrs Clegg, who has one son at Bront' and two at Oldfield, says: "Everybody was there for the same reason which gave the event a really good atmosphere. We all shouted and chanted in unison and waved our banners in the air as we walked around in a big circle. We even stopped the traffic and were escorted by police to the Square. It was all very friendly and peaceful."

After the protestors had all gathered in Centenary Square, organiser Elvira Grisag read out a roll of honour of all the schools affected by the review.

Worth Valley councillor Kris Hopkins, who also attended the rally, says: "It was wonderful to see all these people who had turned out on a bank holiday weekend to support their schools with such passion.

"I just hope it will have some knock-on effect and that the council will decide to keep the schools open, especially Bront' and Oldfield which are in my ward and have exemplary academic records."

The deadline for the consultation period is today. A report on the proposals and suggested changes will be discussed by the council's education committee on June 23 before a final decision is made by the council on July 14.

Once the proposals have been sent to the Department for Education and Employ-ment people will be able to make further comments throughout the autumn.

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