Boden defends schools closure consultation

SHETLAND Islands Council has rejected suggestions that it is “trying to subvert the will of parliament” by rushing through a programme of school closures.

Chief executive Mark Boden has now moved to reassure parents after receiving a strongly worded letter from Highlands and Islands list MSP Mike Mackenzie.

During a visit to the isles last month the SNP politician had discussions with a number of parents concerned by the implications of the blueprint for education programme.

In January, the SIC announced its timetable for consulting on closing four primary schools (two of the three primaries in Northmavine, as well as Sandness and Burravoe) and removing S3 and S4 education from five junior high schools.

The council has already decided to close Olnafirth Primary School, the secondary department of the Skerries school, and also closing Bressay’s primary after most parents decided to take their bairns to schools in Lerwick.

In his letter, Mackenzie said:

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• the SIC was rushing through these proposals before the rural schools provisions of the Children and Young Peoples Act come into force and in doing so was trying to subvert the will of parliament;
• the SIC had failed to respond to requests for further information so that parents and others with concerns could properly and meaningfully take part in the consultation;
• that the only reason for this re-organisation is to seek financial savings and as such the proposals fail to take into account recent developments which have positively impacted on the council’s budget.

He said that small rural schools were “the jewels in the crown of the education system”.

MacKenzie added: “They are at the very foundations of sustainable rural communities, as parents quite rightly place a high value on the quality of education.

“The council has a duty to ensure that their consultation process has integrity and that the views of parents are fully considered.”

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But Boden said the local authority was following the statutory consultation process by the letter and confirmed that whatever decision would be made on individual school closures, Scottish ministers would have the final say.

The chief executive said people need not be concerned. “This process started in 2007 and was implemented not before 2011,” he said.

“Then in February 2012, in response to the new curriculum of excellence, we started another informal engagement exercise, and it wasn’t until November 2013, having carried out a lot of consultation, the council decided on the way forward.

“So now we are doing the first statutory consultation. It cannot be described as a rushed process when we spent that long and had that much involvement in doing it.

“And, of course, as we are following the statutory process everyone’s views are welcome, and everyone’s views are being taken into account. In terms of the process there is nothing to be concerned about.”