Three South Ayrshire schools set to close

Oct 15 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THREE South Ayrshire schools are set to close.

And cost-cutting council chiefs insist the axe must fall as they bid to tighten their belts.

Cairn, St Ann’s and Pinwherry Primaries have all been recommended for the chop as part of budget savings.

Council bosses believe the closures would save £250,000.

But they’ll do nothing before asking the community – and have urged the people to have their say.

Education spokesman, Councillor Hywel Davies, admits the cuts are sadly inevitable.

But he insists that pupils whose schools close will actually see progress in their education.

Mr Davies told the Post: “It’s important to stress that these are only proposals and we intend to hold a full and open public consultation on the matter.

“But with the financial situation now facing us, it’s a sad fact of life that we must make cuts.

“St Ann’s is a prime example of a school which costs the council a lot of money to run in comparison to others.

“It has a relatively small roll of something like 10 pupils and it costs us £10,000 per pupil every year.

“But the average school only costs us £4000 per pupil. It can be a problem.”

Under the budget proposals, pupils at St Ann’s in Mossblown will make the move to Ayr’s St John’s Primary.

Pinwherry pupils will transfer to the new school at Colmonell, while Cairn Primary in Maybole, the biggest school to be affected, will be merged with Gardenrose.

Maybole Community Council are among the groups set to be consulted before the end of the year on the closures.

Their spokesperson said: “There is a worry about the public consultation process in general.

“Many people feel it’s just a case of paying lip service and the real decisions have already been taken.

“However, we want to ensure that everyone who has an opinion is heard and there is sure to be a fair amount said on this subject.”

Fr Philip Kitchen, chaplain to St Ann’s Primary, added: “The church recognises that parents are the first educators of their children and so I will be listening closely to what the parents of the St. Ann's children have to say.”

But council chiefs insist parents should not press the panic button.

And councillor Davies believes closures can mean a brighter future for the affected pupils.

He said: “These pupils wouldn’t be left without an education – they would go to good schools.

“In the longer term we have plans to build a new school in Maybole and I’m confident South Ayrshire will continue its record as one of the top areas for education in Scotland.

“We are ready to talk to the community about this when, in the past, people may have tried to pust things under the carpet.

“Far from being a step back, I’m sure these moves will be progress.”