Pupils to get extra days off as AHS flits across town

THE SCOTTISH Government has given its approval for the Anderson High School to have five extra closure days during the process of moving to the new school buildings at lower Staney Hill this autumn.

Pupils are set to enjoy their first day at the long-awaited £55.75 million new school in late October and the government has agreed to allow Shetland Islands Council to shut the school on days either side of the October holidays to enable the move to take place.

S1-S3 pupils will have five extra days off on Thursday 5, Friday 6 and Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 and Friday 27 October. S4-S6 pupils will have the first four of those days off before returning to school in the new buildings on 27 October.

All other SIC schools’ holiday dates will remain from Monday 9 until Tuesday 24 October inclusive.

The local authority said teachers were preparing additional homework for pupils to undertake during the closure days to “ensure that pupils’ education will not be compromised”.

SIC director of children’s services Helen Budge said: “I have been closely involved with this project since its inception, and it’s exciting to reach this stage in the project where we are about to make the move to the new school and halls of residence.

“I hope parents, carers and pupils won’t be inconvenienced too much by these additional school closure days.”