Parents call for new school to ease the pressure

They want a new school in Denholme or Cullingworth to relieve pressure on existing schools in the Bingley area.

Beckfoot and Nab Wood Grammar Schools are both due to expand significantly as part of a major education shake-up in the Bradford district.

But fears have been voiced that the schools will become too big and standards will fall.

Now Bradford Councillor Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley Rural) is spearheading a campaign for the planned changes to upper schools in the area to be amended.

"The prospect of both Beckfoot and Nab Wood housing 1,500 pupils fills many parents with horror," she said.

"To relieve pressure on such schools and address the obvious shortfall in upper school provision, many parents have said that an upper school in the Denholme and Cullingworth area should be created."

A consultation exercise is currently being carried out on Bradford Council's controversial proposals to switch to a two-tier schools system.

Existing upper schools throughout Bradford will absorb extra pupils when middle schools are scrapped as part of the shake-up.

Coun Eaton, who is the Tory group leader on Bradford Council, said: "The schools review has caused much worry and confusion to parents, staff and children.

"What the process so far has failed to do is make clear the Council's approach to catchment areas, particularly for upper schools."

The Council's education director Diana Cavanagh said today that only schools which had more than 1,700 pupils were in danger of becoming too large.

"Up to that level, schools are very successful in creating smaller units within the school and you get a very good curriculum range," she said.

"I am certain that a clear proposal for a new upper school in the Bingley area would be considered, but we would obviously have to look at pupil numbers, use of buildings and so on."

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