The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), which praised Oldfield's effective education following a 1995 inspection, declines to comment about Bradford council's proposals to scrap middle schools.

A spokesman says: "OFSTED inspectors look at both the strengths and the weaknesses of schools. The whole point of OFSTED inspections is to find out where quality education is being provided for the pupils.

"Schools are inspected on their own merits. It's up to individual authorities how they organise their school structures. OFSTED only inspects them.'

But inspectors said of Oldfield that significant numbers of children achieved above-national expectations in speaking, listening and reading, information technology and religious education. And they found pupils' attitudes to be positive and assessment procedures to be rigorous.

The then-chairman of the governors said Oldfield school had always sought to match high standards of achievement with a sense of community."

However, the OFSTED inspectors were concerned about under-achievement in physical education because of constraints on the building, where the hall has to double as a classroom, gym, dining hall and library.

Local fundraising has converted part of the adjoining vacant caretaker's house into a staffroom and community room. But staff and children continue to share outside toilets.

A £190,000 extension scheme has been approved but is on hold until the schools review has been completed.

Now, despite its success, the village school is being proposed for closure.

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