I was affected by the last two radical changes to secondary education in Mirfield. This had the most devastating affect on many young people.
My wife and I suffered due to the initial change to comprehensive schools and again when our sons suffered due to the change away from middle schools. Why do we feel we have to re arrange things once again?
Surely should we be looking at America where lots of money was spent changing to the BIG SCHOOLS and who are now finding that small was and is best? In years to come will you be proposing to spend in excess of £200m on re-developing efficient, disciplined small schools? At a time when parents want smaller class sizes; a more personal approach to education and more support for individuals surely big is not best.
Smaller schools provide a safer and more challenging school environment that leads to higher academic achievement and graduation rates, fewer disciplinary problems, and greater satisfaction for families, students, and teachers.
Why do you want to continue to develop Mirfield Free when it is boxed in by two roads and houses on two sides? What is the logic behind developing there and closing Castle Hall that has over the years been a highly sought-after school. Castle Hall must remain open and be developed to once again serve the children of Mirfield and surrounding area.
The two schools working in conjunction and co-operation as a secondary school and sixth form college are what we need.
To return to what was deemed progress in the early 1970s when the original Mirfield Grammar School (now Castle Hall) and the former Secondary Modern School (now the misnamed "Free Grammar School"] were merged would be an absolute travesty

RICHARD G SMITH
Dunbottle Lane
MIRFIELD