Wick primaries still at risk in schools review
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There are concerns about the future of Wick's primary schools.
PRIMARY schools in Wick are the only ones in Caithness which could be closed or amalgamated by a Highland Council review.
That possibility emerged this week when plans to look at the future of local rural schools were “put on hold” for a year after Scottish education secretary Mike Russell called for a moratorium.
He asked councils in Scotland not to close any rural schools for a 12-month period to enable a commission on the delivery of rural education to be established.
In a separate development, the Highland Council has decided not to proceed with its review of primary school provision in Thurso for five to six years, leaving Wick as the only area in the Far North where schools may be closed or amalgamated.
Wick councillor Bill Fernie, who chairs the local authority’s education, culture and sport committee, expects the council to support the moratorium following discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) which are due to take place by next Friday.
If that happens the rural schools would be out of the equation, leaving only Wick ones in the current review.
However, Mr Fernie said that could work to the town’s advantage. “We have two schools that are half empty at the moment. Changes could mean much-improved or refurbished buildings which would provide quality education for pupils and bring some work to the area,” he said.
The councillor stressed the moratorium would result in the proposals being “put on hold” for a year but does not mean they will not happen. He also pointed out not all the schools are against the changes. “The reaction varies depending on what school you are in,” he said.
Mr Fernie emphasised a lot of work has been done in the pre-consultation stage but said it would prove useful if still required in a year’s time.
“We have been going about this in a rigorous way and giving people every opportunity to express their views about what happens in Caithness schools,” said Mr Fernie, who described the moratorium as “just delaying things”.
Regarding the council’s decision not to proceed with the review in Thurso, he stated: “There are a number of uncertainties there with the changes at Dounreay, the possibility of marine energy development and changes in the population. It is difficult to predict if the number of people will go up or down so it was proposed that the school review in Thurso should be left for around five to six years,” he said.
Dr Ewen Pearson, the chair of Hillhead parent council, welcomed the moratorium plan but was concerned schools in Wick could “still be at risk”.
He said some of the Highland Council plans which involved rural schools such as Keiss and Thrumster being amalgamated with Wick ones would not go ahead over the next year.
But Dr Pearson said the town schools – Hillhead, North, Pulteneytown and South – would still be included in the review as they would not be affected by the moratorium. He argued any new school or refurbishment or extension of an existing building would cost money and he wondered where the funding would come from at a time of economic cutbacks.
“We would not consider an amalgamation with another school if all it involved was a lick of paint and kids being squashed in like sardines. There must be a better way,” he said.
Dr Pearson hoped the moratorium would provide “a pause for thought and time for reflection”.
“Mike Russell has seen how difficult it is to close a rural school and the devastating impact that can have on the communities,” he added.
Lesley Wilson, the chair of Pennyland parent council, said: “Nobody wants a school to close because of the disruption it causes to children who are re-zoned and concerns about how they fit in and make new friends. It can also cause disruption to the local community, especially if the school is used as a community base. What Mike Russell is proposing is welcome as it gives schools a year’s breathing space.”
John Green, the chairman of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council, welcomed the moratorium and said it would provide more time to look at the issues involved. He stressed Crossroads and Canisbay – the two schools in his community council area – are viable entities and important local facilities.
“It is the wish of the parents to keep both schools open for the foreseeable future. The schools are essential to keeping the community alive,” he added.
