Bradford council has yet to fix a timetable for the schools reorganisation, says its education chairman.

Councillor Susanne Rooney, executive member for education has told the Keighley News that a Managing Partner will not be appointed until March.

"As soon as that takes place they will make it clear the precise nature of the scheduled timetable for every school," states Cllr Rooney.

She adds: "On the DfEE schedule, there are only two schools to be finished for 2000. The majority of the changes are in September 2001.

"It is clear to me that a number of mischievous people have given schools an entirely false impression as to expected timetables for work to be done."

Cllr Rooney - pictured left - spoke out in reaction to claims made by Cllr Kris Hopkins (conservative Worth Valley) in last week's Keighley News. She states some primaries, including Keighley's Parkside, are already complete.

Cllr Rooney continues: "We want to get on with it and everybody wants to. There's no way anybody can get that amount of building done on time."

For this reason, she says, as much work as possible is being done during the summer holidays.

She revealed that a number of schools have been put on an accelerated programme and are being tendered separately. The list includes 14 primary schools and 6 secondary schools are to be immediately temndered.

Cllr Rooney states that the majority of closing middle school heads will now be found posts. But adds: "I am concerned about administrators - we are looking for a new structure on that, which will be of benefit."

She concludes: "Out first concern is the children - change is always difficult and always causes anxiety."

Norma Shillaker, head of Long Lee Primary says: "I know nothing is happening until the appointment of this manager partner. As far as I know, everything is on hold until then."

Haworth parent, Ian Palmer's son starts Haworth Primary - to be sited at Hartington Middle - in September 2000.

He says: "I was under the impression that it was all to change this September.

"Maybe they are looking at the small print and saying they didn't say that."

Hartington Middle School's head, Ken Brown says: "We're closing, so it's not so urgent for us.

"It's not surprise to me that the building work will run into the next school year."

Cllr Rooney's letter appear in full on page 3.

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