School’s closure plans criticised

A Huddersfield primary school is set to shut its doors as part of unpopular closure plans. Lily Park in Golcar is one of three local schools facing reorganisation. Pupils will be moved to a new site with bus transport laid on.

It is the third restructure in six years. Parents are said to be “upset, disgusted and angry”.

A PUBLIC consultation is set to be held on plans to cut the post-16 offering of an East Riding school.

East Riding Council’s cabinet approved a consultation on the plans after members heard Withernsea High School deemed it no longer financially viable.

Council Children, Families and Schools Director Eoin Rush told the cabinet 75 per cent of Withernsea

High School’s Year 11 pupils chose to go elsewhere for post-16 learning in 2019.

A report submitted to the cabinet stated 22 students enrolled in Year 12 in September 2019 and 16 of them progressed to Year 13, with 87 needed to be viable.

It was the first meeting of the council’s cabinet since Jonathan Owen took over as leader last week. Victoria Aitkin, portfolio holder for Children and Young People’s Education, said support should be looked at for pupils who wanted to stay in Withernsea after school if cuts happen.

Economic Growth Portfolio Holder Jane Evison said transport should be looked at for students who would have to travel elsewhere for Sixth Form.