Council / Dunrossness parents express ‘fury’ at demolition plans during term-time
One parent launches petition calling for widespread education changes in Shetland
PARENTS at Dunrossness Primary School have reacted furiously to news that temporary school buildings are set to be demolished during term time.
One parent has said they will keep their three children, one of whom has high-level additional support needs, off school if works go ahead due to fears about noise, disruption and safety.
And another has started a petition calling for wide-scale changes to Shetland’s education system, which they have said is negatively impacting their children’s futures.
Parents at Dunrossness have reacted strongly to the news that work on demolishing two temporary buildings is set to start on Monday 5 January 2026, the first day of the new term.
Shetland Islands Council has not provided a comment, but councillors were told last week that work was due to start in January 2026 and that a contractor had been appointed for the project.
One parent has told Shetland News they had been given assurances previously that the work would be carried out during the school holidays.
Concerns have been raised with Shetland Islands Council about heavy machinery operating next to classrooms, and about the impact that noise, dust and traffic could have on pupils.
This is particularly the case, they said, for children with additional support needs – who may struggle with the sudden disruption and change to their routines.
One parent told Shetland News: “Children should not be trying to learn next to demolition works. It’s as simple as that.”
Councillors agreed in September last year to demolish the temporary huts – which were built in the 1970s – at a potential cost of £150,000.
The story has echoes of the situation in Aith earlier this year, where parents also reacted angrily to plans for an enhanced provision hub at the school, with those plans since put on hold.
Like at Dunrossness, parents at Aith complained of a lack of consultation between them and the SIC.
Jillian Mouat wrote on social media that parents have had enough after the news of the Dunrossness demolition, and that there were “very strong feelings across Shetland on da state of wir bairns’ education”.
“This has been a particularly difficult term for wis at Dunrossness and new information ower da past few days has tipped a lot o’ wis intae fury and disbelief so we’ve decided tae setup a public petition,” she wrote.
“Wir hed enough.”
A statement of concern has also been shared by the Dunrossness Primary School parent forum, who said they were “tired of staying quiet”.
“We should not have to fight the local authority on this,” they wrote.
“It is exhausting, it detracts from other ways our energy and commitment could be used and, ultimately, the local authority is here to serve communities and has a duty to consult with us.”
They said they had spent the last 14 months flagging concerns related to the demolition of the huts.
And they added they had tried to support the parent council to find a resolution to the issue, but the demolition announcement had been the “final straw”.
“We no longer feel able to say nothing and keep the matter private,” the parent forum said.
“It has been exhausting and deeply saddening to watch standards slipping in a school that so many of us care about”.
Parents are hoping that wider public scrutiny will prompt the SIC to rethink the project before work begins.
But some want it to go further than that, with a petition calling for a total overhaul of Shetland’s education system.
The petition wrote that teachers were being “stretched to breaking point” and that students were “not receiving the attention and resources they need to thrive”.
“We urge our elected members to review and restructure the education system across Shetland,” it said.
“Reallocate public money back into the schools, ensuring more of the budgets are being allocated to frontline education – increase staffing levels within schools, improve and increase teaching space.
“We ask for meaningful consultation and engagement with all parties concerned going forward to ensure change is carried out positively and productively.
“Please join us in demanding a brighter future for our children.”
You can view the petition here.
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