The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
MSP thinks council chiefs do not want to close high
The Tory-led administration at Perth and Kinross Council has no desire to close Pitlochry High School, an MSP has claimed.
Parents are calling for an expansion of the school, which is being considered for closure as part of a wide-ranging estates review.
Around 300 people have taken part in consultation events to discuss the school’s future.
Parent council chairman Andy Charlton said he was delighted to win support from a broad range of political parties.
“The parent council has constantly sought reassurances from our three local councillors, and their political allies, that any proposal which would result in closure of the secondary school would be opposed and only proposals which would see the growth of the school be supported,” he said.
“Although obtaining this high level of commitment from the three political parties in the Highland ward is a huge step forward it by no means signals the end of the process. We still have several months, if not years, of work ahead of us.”
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser met parent council members and said his party was committed to retaining the secondary school.
“I can appreciate that this review, which was initiated two years ago, has been unsettling for parents and pupils with uncertainty about the future,” he said.
“It is a pity that there has been such a focus on whether the school might close as this has just added to the public concern.
“I do not believe that there is anyone in the council administration who wants to see the school close. Instead, the focus should be on how we enhance educational provision in Highland Perthshire.”
He added: “Parents in Pitlochry have been clear that they want to see the addition of S5 and S6 to the high school. This is an ambition I support, and I will be encouraging council colleagues to look at how this might be delivered in practice.”
The school campaign has been publicly supported by SNP members and Independent councillor Xander McDade.