Education chiefs say the transformation of Bradford's schools system is still on course, despite claims from protesters the review has lost direction and lacks credibility.

Councillors at a packed education committee yesterday approved recommendations to give extra consultation time up to July 17 on those schools affected by revised proposals.

The decision to give communities a final chance to voice their objections means the proposals will not go before full Council until the beginning of September - eight weeks later than planned.

But education committee chairman Councillor Jim Flood told the meeting the move had been agreed with the Department for Education and would not affect the September 1999 start date.

He said: "If we let the process slip we could lose a year, but after discussions with the DFEE we have been able to build this additional consultation period into the process and stay within the overall timetable."

More than 300 parents, pupils and teachers - many carrying banners and placards - descended on City Hall ahead of yesterday's meeting to voice their anger at the proposals.

The demonstration involved representatives from Undercliffe First School, Woodend Middle, Eccleshill Upper, Delf Hill Middle and Shipley CE First - all now earmarked for outright closure.

Although they welcomed the decision to allow further consultation, some campaigners claimed the review had lost all credibility and direction and questioned whether the £155 million transformation from a three-tier to two-tier system would ever come to fruition.

Sarah Peckover, who has two children aged nine and six at Undercliffe First School, said: "There have been so many changes of mind over closures and consultation that the Council has lost all credibility."

Councillor Flood told the meeting he knew it was impossible to please every school, but that the extra period of consultation had been allowed in the "interests of natural justice".

Tory education spokesman Coun Dale Smith said: "I think we should extend the consultation to all schools - not just those on the amended list of proposals."

And David Ward, Lib-Dem spokesman for education queried: "Should the schools who have been reprieved now mount huge campaigns saying they agree?"

Committee members approved recommendations to continue with all preparations relating to staff placements, governing bodies, budget estimates, post-16 links and early years provision.

Under the agreement pupils attending a school which closes will be offered the opportunity to move together as a class group.

Parents in Keighley today launched a new campaign to protect the town's schools.

The Keighley Education Action Group called on the town to unite to fight for education in Keighley.

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