Council dunces

I have been looking, with some incredulity, at Edinburgh Council’ s plan store organise secondary education in the Balerno to Wester Hailes corridor. Having served in the education directorate, I recognise a desktop exercise driven by financial considerations and with little regard to the wishes of stakeholders and the impact on individuals and communities.

In essence, the plan is to reduce from three secondary schools to two, and to sell off the site of Currie High School for housing. The proposals are out to consultation. A crystal ball is not needed to predict the level of opposition – indeed, antagonism – that will be found.

What is surprising is that our elected representatives are so in thrall to their officials, or out of touch with their electorate – or both – that they would allow these proposals to see the light of day.

Schooling should not be designed to achieve the minimum unit costing. Edinburgh is a large city, but its