Hundreds of objections to the closure of Bradford's special schools have failed to alter the plans of education chiefs.

After a three-month consultation, officials at Education Bradford are sticking to their original recommendation to close ten existing schools and replace them with six new ones.

They have the backing of seven out of 12 special school heads, although the majority of respondents overall did not want the existing schools to shut.

The new schools, costing an estimated £35 million, would be built through the Government's Private Finance Initiative and 'co-located' on the sites of mainstream schools at Riddlesden St Mary's, Lapage, Belle Vue (primary) and Beckfoot, Greenhead and Grange (secondary).

Education Bradford and Bradford Council started a widespread consultation last term which included a large number of public meetings to describe the proposals and gather views. But a new report outlining the comments received shows education chiefs have failed to win the hearts and minds of families of young people with special needs.

Both parents and people working in special schools are split on the wisdom of going ahead with the ambitious redevelopment. There is not even agreement on the concept of 'co-locating' special schools with mainstream partners - some governors and teachers, as well as anxious parents, are concerned over the risk of placing vulnerable youngsters alongside their peers in mainstream schools.

At Haycliffe, Wedgwood and Greenfield schools, parents have strongly campaigned against the plans, saying successful schools should be preserved, not closed down.

The report describes the comments and attempts to respond to criticisms, but concludes that the recommendations will be unchanged.

"While full account has been taken of the issues raised in the consultation," the report says, "it is considered all of these can be addressed, and the proposals successfully implemented."

The plans will be discussed at Thursday's meeting of the Education Policy Partnership.

If approved, a final decision on closure would fall to the Council's ruling Executive.

Councillor David Ward, executive member for education, said: "These new schools would be the best in the country. There are issues of resourcing to sort out still, but we have three years to do it."

The report on the consultation is on the Bradford Council website at www.bradford.gov.uk