Parents from the Batley & Cleckheaton Music Centres packed a meeting at Whitcliffe Mount on Saturday morning. Thom Meredith, the Principal of the Kirklees Music School, and Nina Garforth, the Chair of the KMS Board, were there to listen to the concerns of parents about the proposed closure of both the Batley and Cleckheaton Music Centres. […]

Whitcliffe Mount had its Ofsted inspection in May. The inspectors report was published last week and confirms what all those involved with the school knew: it is a “good, and improving, school”. The Inspectors particularly praised the behaviour of the students and the quality of the curriculum which was described as excellent. Below is the […]

I have been told today that the independent Kirklees Music School Trust have decided to close the Cleckheaton Music Centre from the end of this summer term.  The reasons given are the fall in numbers attending. To be viable, each centre needs around 200 children to attend but, sadly, Cleckheaton has only around 40 – 50. The […]

The Birkenshaw Group (all Tory activists), who want an unnecessary so-called “free” high school in Birkenshaw, have been told that they CANNOT consider having a school in 2012. This decision by the Government is a major blow to the Group who have been campaigning hard for a 2012 date. This decision also calls into question the validity of […]

The small committee that is promoting a so-called free school in Birkenshaw are all active Tories. At the count of the votes for the local election, there they all were with large blue rosettes. Schools have always maintained a non party political stance: and rightly so. Parents will be anxious about sending their children to a […]

The Council have issued a very detailed information sheet giving details of the way the changes will be made to our local schools over the next 2 years to complete the change from a three to a two tier system. The information gives a summary timetable as follows:  September 2011 Current year 4 pupils in […]

Michael Gove, Education Secretary of State, has asked the Birkenshaw free school group to reduce the size of the school to 650 and 750 as the maximum. A school of 650 would have a yearly intake of a maximum 130 pupils. There are 100 pupils in each year group in Birkenshaw Middle. There is therefore only […]

A packed hall last Friday at Whitcliffe Mount school enjoyed an absolutely stunning performance of the West End hit Les Miserables. This was a performance of the highest quality. I spoke to several people in the interval who were not connected witthe school but came to enjoy the show. They were all, without exception, full […]

I was at a meeting this week with some local headteachers and the Birkenshaw Parents Group and Serco, the private company chosen by the parents to run the school. One of the issues dscussed was the proposed date for opening the school – if it gets the go-ahead. Birkenshaw Middle School has a closure date […]

I asked a question at the Council meeting yesterday about the next steps for the proposed “free” school in Birkenshaw. Whenever there is a change to a school or a new school is built, Councils have to consult parents, other schools, councillors, and all school staff. Will that be the case for the proposed “free” […]