The future of a Keighley school "saved" by the Department for Education and Employment now hangs in the balance.

Oldfield School was to close under Bradford's schools reorganisation from a three to two-tier system.

But Education Secretary David Blunkett stepped in to save the school, as he felt closure would adversely affect the local community.

It was agreed in October that the school would expand to cater for 56 four to 11-year-olds - subject to funding.

Planning permission for an extension was granted last week.

But Cllr Susanne Rooney, the local education authority's executive member for schools, says the DfEE never ordered Bradford to keep the school open.

She adds: "They asked us to look at the community usage of the school.

"There are a number of options - we are not suggesting to close it. It will be subject to a report in the next month or so.

"There is, of course, an option to close it, but that's not what we are proposing."

Oldfield head teacher Margaret Redpath had been confident that the Government would fund the school's expansion.

But now she says: "The future of Oldfield has never been 100 per cent assured by the local council.

"It depends on how you want to look at it - if the DfEE has already granted £173 million for reorganisation, will there be funding in that or will the council have to come up with another proposal?"

If Oldfield closed, she feels that the nearest primary, Stanbury, would not have enough room for extra children.

It was a year ago that Schools' Minister Estelle Morris asked the LEA to come up with an alternative proposal to closure.

"But a year is a very long time," adds Mrs Redpath.

Opinion p10

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