Supporters of Oldfield First School, Bront Middle School and Oakbank School met school standards minister Estelle Morris at City Hall, Bradford, to put forward their plans for their schools in the face of Bradford council opposition.

The council, under its schools review proposals, intends to close Oldfield and Bront and reduce the number of pupils attending Oakbank as part of its massive move from a three-tier education system to a primary-secondary model. It is hoped this radical shake-up will raise standards across the district.

At the meeting, Oldfield head-teacher Maggie Redpath and governors Mark Curtis and Andrew Haley presented the minister with a comprehensive document filled with facts and figures showing how the school could be a viable primary school in the council's proposed new two-tier education system.

Mrs Redpath says: "I think it was a very positive meeting because there was no aggravation on either side. The minister was very easy to talk to and very attentive. By the end of the meeting, we felt that we had done everything we could.

"The minister was very aware of our situation and assured us that all the details of our case would be looked into thoroughly before a final decision was reached."

While the talk took place, parents, pupils - present and former - and other Oldfield supporters waited in anticipation outside the Hall.

Letters protesting against the closure and an 800-name petition were also handed over to Mrs Morris.

Members of Keighley Education Action Group (KEAG) and representatives from Bront and Oakbank pressed their case to turn Bront into a secondary school rather than close it.

The group claims that the council's plans will leave 300 students each year with no school place in the town. KEAG presented a 3,000-word document outlining its objections to Bradford's plan.

Joyce Newton, of KEAG, says: "We are optimistic the minister has taken our arguments on board. She asked for a lot of facts. We explained the position regarding school admission numbers, the facilities at Bront and the fact that we were unable to get any answers from Bradford.

"It was a listening exercise on her part and we believe the minister will go away from the area better informed than she was."

KEAG is launching a formal objection to plans for Oakbank, Bront and Oldfield schools, and will be collecting signatures from as many concerned voters as possible.

Under the council's proposals, all of Keighley's middle schools are to close, its first schools are to become primary schools and the two upper schools - Oakbank and Greenhead - are to be turned into secondary schools.

Objections put forward on Saturday by Oldfield, Oakbank and Bront came during the statutory two-month period in which people can oppose the proposals by presenting their arguments to the Department for Education and Employment in London.

Mrs Morris and Secretary of State David Blunkett have the final say. A decision is expected by the end of the year.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer arranged the meetings and was present at them.

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