News / Parents put their faith in ministers
SHETLAND Islands Council ratified Tuesday’s decision to close the secondary department of Scalloway junior high school when it met on Wednesday morning.
No attempt was made to overturn the decision which had been taken by 13 votes to nine.
Scalloway councillor Iris Hawkins told her fellow councillors the community felt it had a good chance of having the decision overturned by Scottish ministers.
The Scottish government has six weeks to call in the matter, if they feel the SIC has not made an adequate case for closure on educational grounds and complied with new legislation on shutting schools.
The decision to keep the tiny secondary department on the island of Skerries open was also confirmed by the full council.
At Wednesday’s meeting, council convener Sandy Cluness defended his decision to vote for keeping both Scalloway and Skerries secondary departments open.
“I believe that what I did was in the best interest of the people of Skerries and Scalloway,” the convener said to a round of applause from a few parents who attended this morning’s meeting.
Challenged by councillor Jonathan Wills, Mr Cluness added that the council’s school services had his fullest confidence.
Meanwhile Scalloway parent council said it had identified flaws, inaccuracies and omissions at every stage of the council’s handling of the consultation process.
Spokeswoman Karen Eunson said: “We have pointed these out in our submissions but these have not been addressed.
“We will therefore be contacting the Scottish government to ask them to call in this decision on the grounds of failure to comply with the requirements of the act and the special provisions for rural schools contained within it.
“We have every reason to believe that our request will be successful.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
