Abernyte parents ask Holyrood to overturn school closure decision

Plan to axe rural primary is taken to Scottish Government

A Perthshire parent council has appealed to Scottish Government ministers to call in a decision to close their rural school.

Perth and Kinross councillors narrowly voted in favour of axing Abernyte Primary School in May as part of the authority’s school estates review.

Around 50 parents, pupils and village residents crammed into the council chambers to watch the decision being made, having arrived early to protest outside.

The school roll had increased by 60% while under review, with three boys joining the existing five girls who attended prior to the closure threat.

Following the closure decision, pupils looked set to start the next academic year at Inchture Primary School.

Now, the group has formally asked Holyrood ministers to overturn the decision.

In the appeal, Abernyte Primary School parent vouncil said its members believe “the process followed by Perth and Kinross Council does not meet the requirements of the Schools Consultation Scotland Act in a number of areas.”

During the meeting at which the closure decision was made, there was some debate as to how many children would be attending after the summer – with parents arguing the figure would be higher than the council’s projections.

Parent council chairman Gerard McGoldrick had provided a list of names of children whose parents had pledged to enrol them if the closure threat was lifted, but they had not formally notified the council.

The report also outlines what the authors believe to be lack of consideration of reasonable alternatives and lack of steps taken to address the falling school roll.

Mr McGoldrick has also highlighted what he believes to be inaccuracies in the council’s report.

He said: “It’s clear that the council has been very narrow minded and we’re very confident and hopeful that the Scottish Government will make the right decision.

“There had been a few of us working on it and we sent in a 16,000 word document with all the details.”

The Scottish Government confirmed it is “reviewing” the council’s plans and the parents’ concerns.

It’s clear that the council has been very narrow minded.

GERARD MCGOLDRICK, PARENT COUNCIL

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Children, parents and community representatives from Abernyte demonstrated outside Perth and Kinross Council’s headquarters.