Councillors calling for probe into costly primary school saga

EDUCATION: Failed bid to axe Abernyte site estimated to have cost taxpayer thousands

Education bosses have been urged to launch a “formal investigation” into a failed school closure bid which it is estimated will cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

Last month, the Scottish Government’s School Closure Review Panel voted to overturn Perth and Kinross Council’s plan to shut Abernyte Primary.

The decision came more than a year after councillors first voted to axe the rural school and a watchdog investigation was temporarily halted as local authority chiefs unsuccessfully challenged reviewers in the Court of Session.

Now that the school’s future has been guaranteed, those who opposed the decision at the initial vote last May are calling for an extensive probe to prevent the issue from being “swept under the carpet.”

“These are significant criticisms and they cannot be swept under the carpet

An open letter sent to lifelong learning convener Caroline Shiers has been signed by the SNP group’s education spokesperson John Rebbeck and five other opposition councillors.

It reads: “The panel’s conclusions should provoke deep reflection and a period of learning for those involved in the decision-making which has brought us to where we are today.

“As members of the committee who did not support closure of the school and on behalf of our group colleagues, we ask today for a formal investigation into the decisions and processes which were so strongly criticised in the panel’s report.

“The panel’s report calls into question information in three areas which was provided to us as decision-making voting members of the committee.

“Specifically, the financial implications of this closure, a lack of detail on how the falling school roll could be addressed and other errors in the proposal paper regarding the school site and boundaries.

“These are significant criticisms and they cannot be swept under the carpet.”

Ms Shiers said: “I thank Councillor Rebbeck for his letter and can assure him that a paper will come to the lifelong learning committee regarding Abernyte Primary School very soon.

“At that meeting of the committee, elected members will be able to consider all of the points raised in the report by the panel and ask questions.”

Picture: Kim Cessford. In May last year, parents, children and councillors gathered to celebrate the Scottish Government decision on Abernyte Primary School.