School closure fears

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Campaigners fear dozens of small schools across Scotland could face closure after ministers refused to save a 52-pupil primary.

The Scottish government has rejected an appeal to keep open Crossroads Primary, near Kilmarnock, despite an SNP manifesto pledge to protect against rural school closures.

The Scottish Rural Schools Network said the move would give a green light to local authorities across the country that want to save money by shutting small primary schools.

Sandy Longmuir, a spokesman for the network, said parents at many of the 600 Scottish primaries with fewer than 70 pupils will now have cause for concern.

"This is a bitterly disappointing decision by Scottish ministers which we believe sets a dangerous precedent and will result in a flood of proposals to shut rural schools," he said.

The warning came after ministers refused to intervene in the decision by SNP-led East Ayrshire Council to close Crossroads Primary.

The council says the school, which serves a farming community, is unsafe and too expensive to renovate. Parents urged ministers to call in the decision but officials ruled that East Ayrshire had fulfilled its obligations under the 2010 Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act, and no further review was necessary.

Parents argue the school is a vital focal point for the community and say a scaled-back refurbishment is both affordable and would make the school safe.

"The decision is particularly disappointing and, possibly, a seminal moment in the future of Scotland's rural schools," said Longmuir. "We fear this decision may herald a cull of rural schools across Scotland."

Des McNulty, education spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party, also went on the attack stating: "Once again pledges made by the SNP in its election manifesto have turned out to be worthless."