The shake-up of Bradford's schools has gone back to the drawing board.

As the switch to a two-tier education system plunges further into chaos schools are now being asked if they have any better ideas.

The confirmation that Bradford council's accommodation plans for Septem-ber's reorganisation have drastically changed comes in the wake of last week's Keighley News exclusive revelation that most schools would not be ready until 2001.

This week a document leaked to the KN shows Keighley's school buildings will not be altered for another year.

Draft plans for the transition to a two-tier system were recently issued to headteachers and governors for consultation by Angela Drizi, head of schools reorganisation.

Her letter says Bradford LEA is set to finalise proposals at the end of the month.

She says priority will be given to split-sites and "bulge" schools for placement of temporary staff and appropriate budget and transport arrangements will be put in place. It says the council is aware that "many of you have worked under difficult circumstances" during the last year.

"Until the appointment of the managing partner, we cannot specify the starting or finishing date for the majority of the building work to be undertaken.

"It is important, however, that we ensure that you are able to deliver a quality education with minimal disruption and appropriate facilities."

The letter adds: "If you have any viable alternative propsals we will give them careful consideration."

The document says local primaries, Cullingworth, Eastwood, Holycroft and Oldfield have "sufficient accommodation" for extra classes. Nessfield will receive two more temporary classrooms.

Several schools, including Haworth Primary could be split over two sites.

Bronte Middle School was earmarked last year to house Holycroft School from September 2000 for a year, while building work was carried out.

Braithwaite Special School was to share the site with a pupil referral unit.

A working party was set up in April 1999 to ensure the building would be used educationally when vacated. After a year of campaigning, they had agreed to these plans. But now, the site will be taken up by Oakbank.

Cllr Susanne Rooney, executive member for education says: "Braithwaite and Holycroft are both staying on their own sites. Oakbank is going to use it while they finish their building work.

"We could have said we will not move the children until 2001, but parents, the head and staff wanted to get on with it - we appreciate that that will cause disruption."

Bront working party chairman, Bob Smith says: "I find it ironic that Oakbank will occupy the split site with Bront School. This idea was rejected a year ago by the authority in its review.

"Braithwaite School must be disappointed to have its move delayed. The council must reassure parents and pupils at Braithwaite that their education will not suffer as a result of this."

Cllr Rooney states that the LEA was more than prepared for such changes of plan. She adds: "We have £2 million for arrangements of this type. Last year, we spent less than £1 million on temporary classrooms etc."

Secondary school, Greenhead will be given some temporary classrooms.

Cllr Rooney says that extra staff will also be put into expanded schools.

"They will come out of unplaced middle school staff," she says.

She blames European legislation for the delay in appointing a managing partner. This, in turn has held back building work.

"We had to go through a number of protocols," she explains.

Cllr Kris Hopkins (Conservative Worth Valley) is angered by the new arrangements. "A lot of parents are going to be seriously worried - there are safety and accommodation issues."

Plans are drafted for Eastwood Primary to use Keighley Professional Development about 100 yards away from the school.

Head Lynda Godden says: "I haven't discussed this yet with governors, but it is not as good as having an extension built"

Chris Irelan-Bunting, Cullingworth primary head does not agree his space is 'sufficient.'

He says: "We'll have another year of traipsing across from one building to another in bad weather."

They can no longer hold afternoon assembly as the hall was designed to hold 180, not the 240 attending in September.

He adds: "It's very upsetting - we were told if we looked at the detailed plans we would know the time scale. But the problem was we never had those plans."

Oakbank head, John Roberts says he only heard the plans on Monday.

He plans for years seven and eight (11-13-year-olds) to occupy the site while building work is done on the main school.

He adds: "It will be for an absolute maximum of one year. I am feeling very positive about it - we are lucky that it has facilities which are better than a lot of middle schools. It also means that around 20% of the new building will be completed by September 2000."

Mr Roberts believes the move will prevent overcrowding in the main school. The split sites will cause minimum disruption, he feels.

He says: "I am positive it will work out very well. There are legal issues to work out with the LEA about their responsibility for the site." But on the positions of Holycroft and Braithwaite Special School, he adds: "I know Holycroft won't be going there, but don't know if anybody else will be using it."

Sarah Kingston, head of Holycroft says: "There have been rumours flying round - I don't think we're going anywhere in September.

"It seems to me a lot of decision-making has been put on hold."

Trish Pearson, head of Braithwaite Special School says: "The last that I heard was we would be moving to Bront in September 2000.

"I don't know anything about Oakbank moving there - it's news to me."

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