School to close ‘temporarily’ as numbers drop
Council ‘mothballs’ Humbie Primary School following parent consultation
A VILLAGE’S primary school is set to temporarily close due to a dwindling number of pupils.
Parents and carers of youngsters at Humbie Primary School were made aware last Thursday that the school was to be “mothballed”.
The decision was announced by Nicola Mcdowell, head of education at East Lothian Council.
The local authority official met with parents and carers at the beginning of the year to discuss the falling school roll and “the effect that was having on the educational experience” of the children.
Now it has been decided that youngsters will attend Pencaitland Primary School after the summer holidays.
In a letter to parents and carers, Ms Mcdowell said: “You fed back to me your feelings about the school and how valued it is in the community, as well as your concerns about its future and your aspirations for your children.
“I undertook to have a discussion with all relevant parties at East Lothian Council, using all of the most up-todate data, in order to gather evidence that would support me to make a decision about keeping the school open next session.
“I have now completed that exercise and am writing to let you know that I have made the very difficult decision to mothball the school.
“For the period of mothballing, Pencaitland Primary School will become the temporary catchment school for those children living in the Humbie Primary School catchment.
“All children who currently get transport to Humbie Primary School will be entitled to transport to take them to Pencaitland Primary School.
“While I know that this news will not come as a surprise to you, I also know that you will feel sad that the falling school roll has resulted in this decision.”
Currently, eight pupils attend Humbie Primary School, while 22 attend nearby Saltoun Primary School and 147 attend Pencaitland Primary School.
Sheona Skinner is acting headteacher at both Humbie and Saltoun Primary Schools until June. Her substantive post is headteacher at Longniddry Primary School.
Debby Crossan is acting headteacher at Pencaitland Primary School and her substantive post is headteacher
at Humbie and Saltoun Primary Schools.
The headteacher position at Pencaitland Primary School is due to be advertised next month.
Janet Beck, who is a member of Humbie, East and West Saltoun,
and Bolton Community Council, said that the school would be greatly missed.
She said: “Whilst we understand that the current dip in pupil numbers creates serious challenges, East Lothian
Council has previously shown a strong commitment to support for small rural schools and Humbie community councillors are very disappointed to see the school being mothballed.
“The school has always been at the heart of the community.
“Not only does it provide an excellent, all-round education for our children, but its activities create a focus for all generations to come together, building and strengthening social networks across the whole of the local community.
“It is not clear what will happen when the temporary closure is reviewed but, for the coming year at least, the school will be greatly missed.”
Discussions with staff at Humbie Primary School, whose building dates from 1880, are “ongoing”. Currently, no “further mothballing decisions have been made” for the upcoming year at any other county school, the was told.