Mum hits out at school closure

A mum has vowed to fight “tooth and nail” to keep her son’s specialist school open.

The independent New School at Butterstone in Perthshire will close tomorrow.

Parents were only told via email on Monday that it would shut at the end of the week, because of “increased costs and a reduction of income”.

Lee Archibald, 37, from Charleston, said the sudden announcement of the closure had left her and her son Sol “devastated”.

The specialist school has been working with children on the autistic spectrum and with other additional needs for the last 25 years.

Earlier this month the Care Inspectorate issued the school with an improvement notice but said immediate concerns had been dealt with.

Lee said Sol had been transformed since starting at the school in August.

She said: “I have seen a dramatic improvement in him thanks to the one-to-one support the school could offer.”

The 13-year-old, who previously attended Harris Academy, has autism, ADHD, dyslexia and an anxiety disorder.

Lee added: “This school has been a blessing for the children who have struggled in mainstream education. I’m devastated for the staff and the pupils at this announcement.”

A petition calling on the Scottish Government to save the school has already gathered more than 3,000 signatures.