Bradford education chief Jim Flood this week hit back at Keighley critics of the schools shake-up. He described claims that the council's review of the current education structure is a 'disaster' for the town as 'irresponsible scaremongering'.

Cllr Flood says it has been made very clear that the proposed change from a three-tier to two-tier system would considerably extend choice for secondary-school education and has been widely welcomed.

He says: "There is a proposal for a new school in Culling-worth for which there is a great deal of support among parents. This will offer parents in Keighley a choice of schools throughout the Aire Valley.

"Parental choice will therefore be far greater than at present, which is something the people of Keighley have long called for."

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