Parents thank council for postponing Abernyte school closure
Abernyte Primary School’s parent council have thanked council bosses for keeping their school open for at least another year.
by Ross GardinerPerth and Kinross Council confirmed last week it is pushing back the closure date from this summer to next, giving reviewers the opportunity to conclude their analysis.
Education bosses have said pupils will not complete a slated move to Inchture Primary until 2021, if at all, to allow the review process to be fully completed.
Abernyte Parent Council chairman Gerard McGoldrick said: “We think this is a wise decision and we’d like to thank the council for making it. The school closure review panel could take weeks, or even more.
“The Abernyte setup lends itself to the guidance around coronavirus too.
“Social distancing will need to be in place for some time and it seems entirely sensible. There’re a lot of elderly people here. Abernyte is an asset to help other schools.
“We fully expect it will be full steam ahead next term and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Carse of Gowrie school had been signed off for closure last year, but when Scottish Ministers called the closure call in to be scrutinised, the local authority took legal action.
A council challenge in the Court of Session was thrown out and costs incurred by the council are still being calculated.
Mr McGoldrick believes the judicial result bodes well for his hopes the panel will overturn the closure decision.
“In her document, Lady Wise reinforces what we said all along and has gone a long way towards strengthening our case.
“We want to see the catchment area redrawn to secure a long term future for the school, the village and for the Carse of Gowrie.”
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