Long-term options could be explored for mothballed Skeld school
OPTIONS for the long-term future of the mothballed Skeld Primary School could be explored by Shetland Islands Council (SIC).
The school was mothballed in 2024 due to its low roll.
Government guidance says it is “unlikely” that mothballing should not exceed three years in areas that are “not very remote”.
A report to councillors on the SIC’s education and families committee on Monday said there was no formal interest expressed earlier this year from parents in having their children attend Skeld if it was reopened.
Shetland West member Liz Peterson said parents “feel that there’s no point trying to do anything further” as they do not feel they were listened to during the initial mothballing process.
She also said some parents say their children are settled into Aith Junior High School and would not seek to uproot them.
The committee also backed plans to open an options appraisal into Burravoe Primary School in Yell, which currently has four pupils.
However, this needs to be given final approval by the full council at a meeting in August.
The report to councillors on Monday stated that by conclusion of the 2026/27 school session, Skeld Primary School will have been mothballed for a period of three years.
Elected members approved the preparation of an options appraisal in relation to the Skeld school. Again, the decision needs to be approved by a meeting of the full council in August.
SIC policy says that a school on the Shetland mainland should be considered for mothballing when its roll falls below 20 per cent of its capacity.
When a school is mothballed the council will continue to maintain the building in case it reopens in the future.
When it was decided to mothball Skeld there were four primary pupils and two in the nursery. Pupils transferred to Aith Junior High School.
However a petition against mothballing attracted more than 500 signatures.
Given that Skeld has been mothballed for nearly two years, the SIC’s mothballing board has recommended that consideration now be given to the longer-term future of the school.
The report to councillors said one option could be a move towards a statutory consultation on a permanent closure, while the status quo could be considered too.
The report to councillors also said another possible option is to reopen the school and “potentially reassign catchment areas” for the Westside cluster of schools.
This cluster also contains schools in Sandness, Walls and Aith.
The report however said: “It should be stressed that the purpose of this report is not to embark on consultation in relation to statutory closure at this time. The purpose is to explore all the options available in terms of Skeld Primary School.”
Something else which could come under consideration is “any other reasonable alternative”.
At Monday’s meeting Peterson questioned the wording of this, and asked if “any other reasonable alternative” could include proposals such as a base for children with complex needs, or a childcare facility.
The message from the legal department was that “any other reasonable alternative” could include any options, and not just ones that are educational.
Peterson said she has received communication from parents and constituents who regretted the closure in 2024 and said they did not wish it took place.
She said some people in the community have indicated a preference towards the school reopening with a reassignment of catchment areas.
But Lerwick South member Neil Pearson questioned why no-one then submitted a form earlier this year indicating their preference to have their child back at Skeld if it was reopened.
Meanwhile a lack of available staff has been cited as the reason why the final decision on the Skeld and Burravoe topics has to wait until August.
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