News / Education committee backs Skerries closure
THE SIC’S educational and families committee has backed plans to shut the secondary department of Skerries School on the casting vote of chairwoman Vaila Wishart.
The vote was tied at 5-5 following almost two hours’ debate in Lerwick Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon.
That came after one of the committee’s unelected religious representatives, Radina McKay, said she would not be exercising her right to vote after being asked not to by councillors.
McKay had indicated she would have supported Gary Cleaver’s motion to maintain an S1-S2 secondary department if she had voted.
Cleaver had wanted the council to consult on keeping the department open until the end of secondary two – in line with plans being considered for other junior highs in Shetland.
Wishart’s amendment, mirroring the recommendation in children’s services director Helen Budge’s report, would see secondary pupils in Skerries transfer to the Anderson High School from August 2014.
Pupils would stay at the hostel in Lerwick through the week, returning home at weekends.
Everything could change in less than 24 hours, however, as the full council meets to consider the planned closure on Wednesday morning.
After McKay announced she would be abstaining, several members of the committee stressed it was not council policy to discourage the religious representatives from voting.
“That’s Jonathan Wills’ policy!” quipped councillor Billy Fox.
It is estimated that closure would save the local authority an estimated £73,000 – but those in favour insist it is being considered for educational, not financial, reasons.
Wishart argued that secondary pupils in Skerries had fewer subjects to choose from and were unable to interact with pupils of a similar age for learning in groups and playing team sports.
Both Budge and quality improvement manager Audrey Edwards said there was a strong educational case for pupils to be taught in a larger secondary.
But councillors fighting to keep the school open pointed to the £5 million-plus contribution through fishing and seafood that Skerries, with a population of just over 70, makes to the Shetland economy.
They voiced fears that closure would result in young families moving away, leaving no one to care for the community’s elderly population.
Cleaver sought to highlight the greater role technology might play in delivering education. He referred to Scottish education minister Mike Russell’s belief that the new curriculum for excellence can be delivered from any building.
“It’s flexible and adjustable,” he said. “If they [pupils] have got an iPhone in their hands, they’re connected to their peer group.
“It’s almost as if we’re saving these poor children from a life of grime and grimness and stupidity. We’re talking about people that come out of Skerries school that go on to degrees, that have a fine level of academic achievement should they wish to take it up.”
Cleaver added: “I didn’t think we had a policy of enforcing our will on the people of Shetland, but then maybe I was wrong.”
North isles member Robert Henderson, who does not sit on the committee, pleaded with his colleagues to “consider very carefully how you cast your vote, because this could be a life-changer for a small vibrant community”.
But political leader Gary Robinson said pupils from other small islands such as Foula, Fair Isle, Fetlar and Papa Stour “haven’t been adversely affected” by transferring to Lerwick from secondary one.
“A move to consult on S1-S2 would be the worst possible outcome,” he said. “More consultation, more uncertainty and all the while the education suffers.”
Councillors Michael Stout and Billy Fox, who both opposed the closure, said they felt Skerries had been a victim of timing.
Its closure consultation was already underway when the SIC last month decided to investigate providing S1-S2 education in Aith, Sandwick, Yell, Unst and Whalsay.
Committee vice-chairman George Smith acknowledged he had moved the motion to do so. But he felt Skerries’ much smaller pupil roll made it a different case.
He rejected the notion that Skerries’ primary teacher could be “upskilled” to cater for the first two years of secondary – pointing to the “complexity” of having a composite class stretching from the age of five to 13.
“It is a difficult decision because of the impact on families,” Smith acknowledged. “[But] I don’t believe that, by keeping Skerries open, we can deliver the type of education we’re offering all our other young folk in Shetland.”
Several islanders watched proceedings over a video link as no transport out of Skerries was available on Tuesday.
Some are planning to make the trip to Lerwick for Wednesday morning’s meeting, where parent Ryan Arthur is hopeful councillors will consider the wider economic implications of closure.
“Hopefully the decision will go in our favour this time,” he told BBC Radio Shetland.
“The closure of the secondary school will in effect force many families off the island.
“That has a knock-on effect on the aquaculture, fishing industry, shops and various industries here which make a net contribution of [over] £5 million to the wider Shetland economy because most of our suppliers are on the mainland.”
THE VOTE:
Gary Cleaver’s motion, seconded by Michael Stout, was backed by Billy Fox, Peter Campbell and Frank Robertson.
Vaila Wishart’s amendment, seconded by George Smith, won the support of Gary Robinson, Davie Sandison and religious representative Martin Tregonning.
Radina McKay abstained, while third religious representative Tom MacIntyre and councillor Andrea Manson were absent.
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