Threatened school seeks new teacher

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Castlebrae High have been left stunned after education bosses advertised for a senior teacher at the school, despite earmarking it for closure.

The permanent vacancy for a pupil support leader, who would be paid more than £40,000 a year, comes as papers were published this week confirming councillors’ intention to consult on closing Castlebrae, with pupils being transferred to Liberton, Portobello and Holy Rood High.

The Evening News revealed last month that the council was considering shutting the school because of falling rolls and poor exam results.

Anti-closure campaigners today said the advertisement was evidence that one council department did not know what the other was doing.

Kevin Finlay, chairman of the Save The Brae campaign group, said: “The council will just come out and say it’s all automated and there’s only the threat of closure at the moment, but it’s a case of the lunatics running the asylum up there.

“That’s what’s behind this quite ludicrous decision to advertise a permanent post and it’s why we’re in the mess that we’re in.”