in the role of local resident and potential parent I was left questioning whether the community of Batley has ever possessed the local experience and expertise to manage, build and run successful schools for children of secondary school age without the help of so many 'professionals' seemingly with few connections to our community.

The 'beauty parade' conceived by the Department for Children, Schools and Families adhering to the mantra of choice, choice, choice –as long as the horse wears 'blinkers' and makes the right choice – included three potential bidders – Dixons City Academy Trust, Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust and The Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education.
The proposed extended school hours included within a number of the bids may usefully be employed in running courses explaining to confused parents like myself the legal structure of an academy, how it sits in relation to Kirklees Council, what it is and why it would be good for us and our children.
Each bidder was given 15 minutes or so to 'pitch' and until the presentation from Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education the evening had the feeling of a business presentation to choose an advertising agency to market a new brand of soap.
Buzz-words, feel good words – 'Our brand is our strength', 'stake-holder consultation', 'The Dixon Kirklees Academy' – presumably in the same neon signage as the Frontier on Bradford Road. Read the proposal documents for more gems.
I was surprised to see how much the language of business dominated the presentations from Dixons and Edutrust.
And then came the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education and I was sold within seconds, ready to sign up and have the children starting on Monday (unfortunately another three years to go until opening and they'll be too old!) The emphasis, the tone of voice was about the child, not the building contracts and spreadsheets and marketing and cost of paper clips but it's the child that matters, it's about our people, it's about our community.
Many of our primary school children have benefited from a faith school education and the sense of responsibility, caring for others and understanding that such an approach brings.
I cannot help the feeling and the knowledge from practical experience with my own children that Wakefield Diocesan Board 'do' education well in this area!
I am happy to be an advocate for the bid from the Diocesan Board on behalf of the next generation of Batley children.
Wouldn't it be great for the Batley children who have grown up together at primary school to continue their friendships together at a secondary school that reflects the values that they have grown up with?
And for us parents to feel that the tremendous efforts of our primary school teachers and heads are rewarded.
The deadline for representations is 19 February 2010. Read the proposals at:
http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/educationlearning/bsf/howdenclough.shtml
You may come to a different conclusion to mine but please make sure your voice is heard.
MARK GRIFFIN
Osborne Terrace
BATLEY