Angry parents have hit out at education chiefs for failing to provide proper consultation over plans to close a Bradford special school.

More than 50 people attended a public meeting last night in a bid to persuade the Local Education Authority to ditch proposals to close Temple Bank School.

But by the end of the night many parents, teachers and ex-pupils said they were none the wiser about the proposals, branding the meeting a waste of time.

Shazad Raffique, whose 14-year-old brother attends Temple Bank said: "The Council says it still wants to hear our views, but it is obvious the decision has already been made."

And Councillor David Ward, Liberal Democrat spokesman for education, said: "This is the school review all over again. People are being asked to give an opinion without receiving any information or having their questions answered."

Judith Moore, the LEA's principal officer for special education needs, told the meeting the purpose of the consultation was to consider three options - to close the school, modify it or keep it as it is.

She said: "A decision has yet to be made. People can register their objections by either filling out the questionnaire or sending in a written representation."

If the school is closed pupils will be absorbed into mainstream and special schools.

Parents asked whether any specialist provision for totally blind youngsters would be made available in the event of Temple Bank being closed. And they asked to know how mainstream schools and parents had been consulted.

Mrs Moore declined to answer both questions saying instead there were three options to consider, only one of which was the closure of Temple Bank.

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