I FELT I had to write to in response to the recent article revealing the proposal to build two new high schools at the Batley Field Hill site.
This is in addition to the proposal to have the new high school for Birstall, Birkenshaw and East Bierley at Howden Clough, which would result in three schools within one mile of each other yet areas such as Gomersal, Birkenshaw and East Bierley havi
ng to travel approximately three, four or five miles to their nearest school.
The reason for the two new single sex schools is the support from the community campaigning for them with Coun John Smithson being quoted as saying "we accept there is strong support for single gender provision within Batley."(Huddersfield Examiner 05/05/09).
Why do they ignore the strong support for a high school in Birkenshaw?
A petition with over 3,000 signatures, a car convoy of 500 plus and a unity march (including Birstall, Gomersal and Birkenshaw parents) of 1,000 plus. If this isn't strong support I don't know what is. Why is one section of the community listened and catered for but another one ignored.
I also attended a recent consultation evening and voiced my concerns to the proposals to extend Whitcliffe Mount to accommodate 1,500 pupils (most people including myself believe this would be more like 2,000 plus pupils).
University studies have concluded that schools above the 1,200 pupil size have a detrimental effect on a child's education and that there is a devastating lack of pastoral care.
Even teachers at the recent NUT conference raised grave concerns about these "super sized schools" and also stated that they have a negative effect on their morale resulting in the standards of teaching suffering.
I raised these concerns with a senior member of the council administration who advised me that they are looking into solutions such as staggered starting and finishing times.
I have two children three school years apart. Would I take them at separate times or would they travel together, but one of them would have to "hang around" outside until it was time for them to start (vice versa at coming home time).
He also said that they would look at segregating the children into "mini schools" within the school. This would result in a total lack of togetherness and community spirit, which is essential for a school to succeed and for a child to feel safe within that school.
Surely if the council are already looking into such measures they have accepted that such schools just do not work.
ABIGAIL MCANDREW
Priory Court
GOMERSAL
