KIRKLEES teachers' trade union has slammed the council's Brighter Futures proposals it believes are 'fundamentally flawed'.
Kirklees National Union of Teachers discussed the plans at its last meeting.
Howard Roberts, Kirklees NUT general secretary, said: "We call on the local authority to have a root and branch rethink of the proposals, based on need and community coh
esion and not subject to short term political interference."
Kirklees NUT members raised concerns community schools and their replacement by trusts, foundation schools and academies, none of which they said were accountable to the local communities from which their pupils come.
The meeting heard Kirklees Council did not have to agree to an academy to secure Building Schools for the Future funding from the government - just show one had been considered.
The meeting unanimously passed a resolution stating the 'Brighter Futures' document was fundamentally flawed and a missed opportunity to ensure every child has a good local school, and that Kirklees Council would become a "commissioner" of services rather than the provider.
Coun Jim Dodds, Kirklees Cabinet member for schools, said that the council will read every response to the proposals line-by-line and consider all suggestions.
