South Ayrshire councillors go back to school

Oct 3 2008 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Councillors go back to school

PUPILS had the chance to quiz decision-makers when a council meeting came to their school.

Kyle Academy pupils asked questions about everything from bin lifts to bats nesting at the school.

And they gained valuable insights into what South Ayrshire Council is all about.

But head teacher Eileen Brown admitted her pupils may have been too polite.

She said: “We certainly encourage them to be respectful, but they perhaps could have been more vocal.

“However, they do have a voice, and the council showed it was prepared to listen to what young people have to say.”

The move to take a meeting to school was the idea of Councillor Ian Douglas.

He said it was inspired by the Scottish Government taking meetings on the road, away from Edinburgh.

Councillor Douglas said: “I could see no reason why we couldn’t take a meeting to a school, to let pupils see what we do.

“Whether it’s a one-off or a pilot for the future remains to be seen.”

It was certainly a laudable initiative, and there was a massive show of hands from pupils who thought it was worthwhile.

Councillor Douglas chairs a cross-party education and prosperity scrutiny panel.

And this time it was pupils, as well as councillors, who did the scrutinising.

Pupil Ewan Smith, in a vote of thanks, said: “This is the way forward for politics and education, going hand in hand.”

The meeting was held in Kyle Academy’s new multi-purpose hall, which seats 300.