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School consultation delays

29 October 2014 19:10

Sandness primary school is still being earmarked for closure despite fighting off the threat several times in the past two decades.

SHETLAND Islands Council is proposing to delay its consultation into the closure of Sandness and Burravoe primary schools by a year.

Education staff will tell councillors next Tuesday that they need more time before consulting on the two school closures, from which they hope to save more than £200,000 a year.

The request from quality improvement manager Audrey Edwards says that the consultation agreed last July on the future of secondary education in the isles will put pressure on staff.

The Scottish government has also extended the amount of time needed to consult on and review closure proposals.

Finally the current timescale will leave uncertainty over whether Mid Yell junior high school will be able to receive pupils from Buravoe if the primary shuts.

The SIC’s education and families committee will discuss the request on Tuesday, when they will also vote on whether to close Urafirth and North Roe primary schools in Northmavine.