Local Tory councillors failed in their attempt to stop the council decision to invest £6 m in 3 of Cleckheaton’s schools.

A public investigation of the decision on Tuesday ruled that the decision was done fairly and properly. The Tory challenge to the decision put the investment in jeopardy as the Government funding has to be spent in the next few months.

The £6 m investment is much needed and very welcome. It will mean that Scholes will have an extension to provide extra classrooms and desperately needed improvements to the 1970s building which is very poorly insulated. Whitechapel will have £3.3 m spent to transform the building into a primary school and bring the whole building up to modern standards of insulation , heating and IT networks. A further £1m will be invested on the old part of West End school to create a much-needed nursery unit.