PUPILS from a Mirfield school earmarked for closure have spoken out against the plans.
The Castle Hall School pupils told reporter Lauren Chadwick of their concerns for the school's future. Year eight pupil Nabiya Farooq, 12, said she thought Kirklees Council should spend money on improving the school instead of cl
osing it.
She said: "This is a really good school and everybody works together. They say they want to make it better but I think it will cause chaos. My younger brothers want to come here but there might not be any point just for a couple of years."
Jacob Lawson, 14, said: "I think Kirklees do want the best for pupils but I think this isn't one of their greatest ideas. A lot of my friends are quite upset about it and my parents feel really strongly about it. They have friends that have children and they really feel for them. Some teachers will leave and be replaced by substitute teachers so I think education is on the line."
Alexandra Carlos, 14, said she was worried about Castle Hall's close community being lost.
She said: "We all get along really well here. You walk down the corridor and you know everybody. I think our education will suffer - the teachers will be leaving and and trying to find new jobs.
"If I had to go to the new school I would feel very upset because you could lose your friends, it would be much bigger and you wouldn't know the teachers."
Lauren Oates, 13, said: "In my form there are a lot of strong views about it. I will be in year 10 next year and if it goes ahead it will mess with my GCSEs and that is why my parents are concerned about it. My brother is gutted because he was really looking forward to coming here. He really wanted to come here and he doesn't like the idea of going to a massive school."
Year 11 pupil Georgina Moulton, 15, said: "I live in Birkenshaw and my parents wanted me to come here because of the reputation it has.
"Everyone knows that Castle Hall is a good school and if the plans go ahead the reputation will be lost. A lot of my friends have younger brothers and sisters that are coming here and they are disappointed that they will have to move to a bigger school."
First published October 3, 2008
