In and amongst the political debacle of the two-tier schools reorganisation scheme a number of beacons, highlighting true progress in the field of education, are shining through.

Thankfully Keighley is blessed with numerous teachers and managers with vision who are going to pioneering lengths to ensure a sound future for our schools.

The merger of the sixth forms at Holy Family and Greenhead is the latest example.

Parents, governors and staff have been quietly planning the move since last November. From next September the schools will be able to share facilities - Holy Family with its new Language College facilities and Greenhead its City Learning Centre.

Looking at the make up of the schools, there is another issue which deserves the highest praise. Holy Family is retaining its Catholic identity but says it can only benefit from increased collaboration with a successful neighbouring school.

Greenhead will ensure its own community remains, believing this type of development will increase in the future. The delight of heads Conor David and Miles Mizon is there for all to see.

Sadly, behind that silver lining the dark skies still hang over Oldfield School.

Once again we highlight a situation at the school - which may well be a good thing - but who knows? All we do know is that confusion and contradiction have once again descended on the community school.

A number of options are apparently being considered and a report will be ready in the next month or so, says Cllr Susanne Rooney. Today we challenge the Councillor to share those options with the community in the true spirit of consultation. We are waiting!

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.