Kirklees Conservative Leader Cllr Jim Dodds has called on the Council’s Cabinet to delay the statutory process affecting North Kirklees schools under BSF proposals. The Cabinet are due to meet on 17 December to push forward with the statutory process affecting Birkdale High School, Earlsheaton Technical College, The Community Science College at Thornhill, Westborough High School, and Spen Valley Sports College, but Cllr Dodds said it was inappropriate to do so as the future of Castle Hall School remains undecided. The Schools Adjudicator is not due to decide on Castle Hall until January 2010 and, in the event that Castle Hall remains open then the statutory process on which Cabinet will decide will become invalid.

Cllr Dodds said:

"I have today asked Cllr Margaret Fearnley, Chair of the Children and Young Peoples Scrutiny Panel, to issue a Notice of Concern with regards the Cabinet Meeting to be held on 17 December 2009 regarding BSF in North Kirlees. The Cabinet seem insistent on going ahead with the statutory process for Birkdale High School and Spen Valley Sports College when the outcome of the future of Castle Hall School is still undecided.

"The decision of the Office of Schools Adjudicator regarding Castle Hall will not be known until January 2010, and if that decision is to keep Castle Hall open then the statutory process outlined in the Cabinet papers will not be valid, and other options will have to be considered such as the revised plans put forward by the then Conservative administration on the 20th January 2009 which proposed Castle Hall should remain open. Whatever the decision of the Adjudicator it is pointless rushing through a process in December when the possibility of it becoming invalid a month later exists."