Teachers spontaneously broke into song when it was announced their college was to be turned into one of three Church of England upper schools.

Bowling Community College will be closed and reopened as a CE voluntary aided secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18.

And when Bradford Cathedral Provost the Very Reverend John Richardson, chairman of governors at the school, announced the decision to staff he could not have predicted their response.

"They started singing All Things Bright and Beautiful with joy on their faces. They were saying they had a future," he said.

"Although we are sad that it's closing, it's wonderful news that it will reopen as a Church of England school."

But reactions elsewhere were less enthusiastic as the news sunk in.

John Flockton, headteacher of Gregory Middle School in Bierley, said too little emphasis had been on pupils with little thought given to the teachers.

"I have a lot of hurt colleagues who have done a lot to make this school a place of calm and quiet," he said. "I will lose two year groups to upper schools but my staff do not want to go to upper schools."

Richard Goodswen, headteacher of Hainsworth Moor Middle School, Queensbury, which will become a primary, said: "We are still not happy with the decision to change a three tier system into two tiers but it is a logical step if you are going to do that."

Denholme First School teacher Mark Newman said staff were initially relieved not to be among the schools closed down although they were sad to see Cullingworth Middle School go.

Staff and governors at Oakdale First School, Wrose, have called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation at their school which is to close.

Headteacher Beryl Eakin said: "We've had a lot of contact from parents who are worried about what's going to happen - it's all been so unexpected."

Anyone interested in attending the meeting should arrive at Oakdale First School, Oakdale Avenue, at 7.30pm tonight.

A headteacher spoke of bitter disappointment at the closure of Bronte Middle School, Oakworth, where there was more demand for places than were available.

Susanne Howell said: "It is ironic that in the same week the Council published its proposals to close Bronte, it informed me the demand for places for September exceeds the number of places on offer."

The new primary school on Keighley's Guardhouse estate will be set up on the site of Calversyke Middle school, adjacent to the present Guardhouse first school. Richard Woollacott, headteacher at Guardhouse, said: "I am pleased the new primary school will be at the heart of the estate."

Horton Bank Top First, with 145 children, is another casualty. "We thought we had made a good case for staying open, but clearly in this area they have targeted small schools," said head Mike Charnock.

John Edwards, of Lidget Green Middle, also listed for closure, said: "People are shell-shocked. We have raised standards in literacy and numeracy yet are to be closed."

Kevin McGee, head of Manningham Middle which will close as part of the review, said: "It really is sad news now it's been confirmed."

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