City primaries to close next year to cut costs

Published on Friday 18 December 2009 00:11

FOUR primary schools in Edinburgh are to close at the end of the summer term next year as part of a cost-cutting exercise, it was announced last night.

The schools targeted are Burdiehouse, Drumbrae, Fort and Royston.

Parents who had campaigned against the closures were described last night as being "totally devastated" by the news.

Councillors voted on the closures during a five-hour meeting of the full Council last night which finished shortly before 11pm.

Opponents said the closure decision, which followed a consultation process, was based on a "flawed" report and would increase class sizes elsewhere affecting educational attainment. Last night city education leader Marilyne MacLaren declined to comment on whether other schools could face the axe.

The vote was split 29 for and 29 against, with the casting vote by Lord Provost George Grubb. Labour, the Conservatives and the Green Party joined in voting against the closures.

The council said the schools were proposed for closure earlier this year as part of a rationalisation process to reduce the number of expensive spare places across the city and had been running at 33 per cent to 41 per cent capacity. It is hoped the move will save 5m by 2015 and make 3.25m from selling the buildings.

Ms MacLaren, said: "During these difficult financial times it is vital we target every precious penny as efficiently as possible. Our large-scale investments in the school estate have only been possible because we have invested wisely.

"The people of Edinburgh are paying for 8,500 empty places in our schools – wasted money that I want to see invested to further improve facilities, increase attainment levels and provide a better educational experience for Edinburgh's young people.

"I know this has been a difficult process, but I want to assure parents that no pupil with be disadvantaged as a result of these closures. We have gone to greater lengths than ever before to consult.

Asked if further schools could face the axe, Ms McLaren replied: "I don't want to comment on that. We'll see how the budget goes in the next two to three years. The next few years are unknown territory and I don't know if we will get any help from the government."

Councillor Andrew Burns, Labour, who voted against the closures, criticised the decision, predicting that more schools would shut in the future.

He said: "We felt very, very strongly that the facts presented were not strong enough to warrant closure.

"At the start of this administration and the previous one it has always been very clear that the only reason to close a school is to provide educational benefits.

"Tonight's decision had nothing to do with that. It was all about saving money. Three schools closed last December and I personally suspect there will be more."

Mr Burns praised the reaction of parents who had sat through the lengthy council meeting as each school was discussed and voted on in turn.

"To the credit of the parents they were incredibly even-handed in the way they put their case forward. They are totally devastated."

Three major reviews over the past decade have seen the total number of schools reduce from 103 to 91 to make schools more efficient.

Steve Cardownie, SNP, said: "We're in a very tough financial situation in common with all local authorities in Scotland. Perhaps in normal circumstances we could be more flexible, but these are difficult times."