The head of the team which has recommended scrapping up to 70 middle schools pledged yesterday that successful schools will not close.

In an exclusive interview with the Keighley News Ray Watson, the school review team leader, even said that schools with surplus places could be expanded.

He spoke as it was confirmed that two of the schools with significant spare places are Bront' and Worth Valley middle schools in Keighley.

Findings in the final report released this week by Bradford council's schools review team recommend that schools with surplus places may be considered for closure or re-organisation.

Middle school head-teachers throughout the district have launched a lobbying campaign in a bid to overturn the proposals. They are due to be rubber-stamped by Bradford council's education committee on Tuesday.

Mr Watson stresses schools with high achievements will not close, even if they have many unfilled places.

He says: "The main issue in deciding which schools should change and which should close is the achievement of individual schools and their potential for improving standards. Schools that do well, but have surplus places, may even be expanded. It all depends on the type of school."

Mr Watson points out that the whole purpose of the review is to improve educational provision and standards across the district.

Keighley is considered to be one area where schools with unfilled places is a particular problem. The report shows a concentration of middle schools with more than 25 per cent of surplus places in the Keighley area. Individual schools highlighted as having significant surplus places are Bront' and Worth Valley.

The council is also focussing on how best to maximise funding to reduce overcrowding in schools. Keighley schools with this problem include Holy Family, Steeton First, Grange Middle and St Joseph's Roman Catholic.

Proposals for change include:

new schools where there is new demand for school places

different schools where the demand for places has increased or reduced

school closures where the number of places available exceeds the current demand or future requirements.

Other factors being considered are school locations, school resources and facilities, and the views of communities.

Michael Holmes, a governor at Keighley's Calversyke Middle School, says he is shocked and disappointed by the recommendations. "We have been very satisfied with the system. The standard of education at Calver-syke has been second to none."

School closures and changes depend on the outcome of Tuesday's meeting, when a final decision will be made on whether to change to a two-tier system or to keep the current three-tier structure.

If the two-tier system is agreed by members, further consultations on individual school sites will ensue. Results of this consultation will be released early next month.

Middle schools to go, page 3

Opinion, page 10

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