Education secretary visit

SCOTTISH education secretary Mike Russell is visiting Shetland on Tuesday next week, one day before councillors vote on the latest attempt to close several of Shetland’s primary and secondary school in a bid to save £3 million.

No details of the visit have yet been released, but it is understood to be a coincidence that it comes the same week as such a controversial subject comes up for debate in the council chamber.

The consultation on closing Olnafirth primary school in Voe was put on hold last year after Russell set up the Commission for Rural Education to examine the criteria for closing small schools in remote areas.

The Commission includes two Shetland residents, MSYP Emily Shaw and west side parent and Shetland representative on the National Parent Council Bob Cree-Hay.

Last year Russell blocked the council’s decision to close Burravoe primary school, probably due to the poor inspectors report received by Mid Yell primary department where the pupils would have been sent.

However he gave the go ahead for the closure of Scalloway secondary department and Uyeasound primary school.