Keighley MP Ann Cryer and Worth Valley councillor John Cope are to meet top Bradford education officials next Monday over the plans to close Oldfield School.

Mrs Cryer has also written to Education Secretary David Blunkett urging the government to save the tiny school.

Staff, parents, pupils and governors at Oldfield have been given a glimmer of hope on hearing the government's recent pledge not to close rural schools, backed up by the council's reassurance that its proposals could well change.

Mrs Cryer told Mr Blunkett the school was the focal and vocal point for the small but vibrant rural community. When she discussed Oldfield with Mr Blunkett before the detailed proposals were made public he took the view that village schools should be kept open. She has now written to remind him of the conversation.

Cllr Cope says: "I'm going to the meeting with an open mind to hear all the facts with regard to the school. I'm interested in all aspects of the decision made by the schools review team and the rationale behind it and I want to find out whether this decision is in the best interests of all the schools in the vicinity.

"I will also be asking the team questions concerning the proposal to close Bront' Middle School."

Labour's education committee chairman cllr Jim Flood responds: "The possible closure of Oldfield School is to do with a number of factors, including where its pupils live, the state of its buildings and their capacity for expansion, the size of the school and its future estimated intake of pupils.

"I'm not aware that we have a policy on rural schools, and, as far as we're concerned, 'education, education, education' means education in both rural and urban schools.

"I am also aware that parts of the area will improve through local knowledge of schools in the area, so that is why we are asking people to point out their dissatisfaction. We can then try and find a better fit. Most changes will be a better fit, but, undoubtedly, there will be room for some improvement. This is where local knowledge can really help."

Worth Valley councillor Mike Young, who has Oldfield in his ward, believes Oldfield School is a 'special case' and should be looked at carefully by the schools review team. He says: "I think we have a case here for rural schools, but because Oldfield is so small it might be difficult to make it viable in the future. I want to look at a possible link with another school."

Mr Blunkett will have the last say on the biggest shake-up of Bradford's education system in 30 years.

The conclusions of the final round of consultation will be considered by Bradford council's education committee in June.

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