The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Parents plan to fight on for at-risk school
Acommunity has vowed to continue fighting for a mothballed northeast primary school. Gartly Primary has been shut for more than two years following an oil leak that contaminated the land.
Children were transferred to a temporary building in the grounds of Rhynie School while Aberdeenshire Council considered the future of Gartly.
The school’s official roll has fallen from 26 to eight since then and, at a private meeting earlier this year, it was decided to mothball the school next month.
Parents were furious that the decision was made behind closed doors, and say there is still a “sense of anger” and a determination to get the local authority to consider reopening the school.
Last week, an emotional ceremony was held at the school’s temporary site at Rhynie. The Gartly staff and pupils were piped from the building.
Charlotte Whitley, the mother of a Gartly pupil, said: “On behalf of all the parents I want to say a big thank you to all of the Gartly staff. They have been amazing.
“We’re all leaving a lovely place which is very emotional.
“We will keep fighting on behalf of the community before the next meeting, but it does feel like the end of the journey.”
Aberdeenshire Council has argued mothballing the school is the best decision for educational purposes, but parents believe it, in effect, still means closure.
Earlier this month, the Marr area committee considered various options for the school, and after discussing the importance of local schools in small communities, recommended the school be reinstated.
Their recommendation will be passed to the education committee to consider later this year.
Mrs Whitley added: “We appreciate the committee taking our side, but there’s still a big sense of anger.
“It doesn’t feel like progress has been made or that they are really listening to the parents.
“We haven’t had any option but to go along with it,” she said.
Councillor John Latham, chairman of the Marr area committee, said: “Considering the future of any school is always a difficult decision.
“I would like to offer assurance no stone has been left unturned during what has been a comprehensive process to determine the best outcome for pupils’ parents and carers.”