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First Minister urged to intervene in Menzieshill High School decision

Jenny Marra is demanding a stay of execution for Menzieshill High.
Jenny Marra is demanding a stay of execution for Menzieshill High.

Jenny Marra MSP has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon demanding she intervene to give the city’s Menzieshill High School a stay of execution.

At a highly-charged meeting in June councillors narrowly voted in favour of closing the school in a bid to raise pupil attainment and save millions of pounds.

The decision was taken despite community opposition and vocal protests in the City Square.

Now Ms Marra has added her voice to that of the Save Menzieshill High campaign group and requested that the Scottish Government “call in” the city council’s decision.

Speaking exclusively to The Courier, the Labour MSP said: “I have written to Nicola Sturgeon asking her to call in the decision to close Menzieshill High School.

“This decision was made in the face of strong evidence that closure would result in overcrowding elsewhere and overwhelming public support to keep the school open.

“It is time for the closure to be reviewed and the views of the people of Menzieshill to be heard at last.”

Ms Marra said she hoped the First Minister would make “the right decision” and overturn the closure decision taken “by Dundee SNP councillors”.

Her call echoes that of the Rev Bob Mallinson, chairman of the campaign to save the institution, who wrote to the First Minister earlier this month.

He believes the decision to close the school is invalid and also hopes to see it called in for review by Scottish Ministers.

His grounds for appeal include claims the council made decisions that “foreclosed alternative options to closure” and that the organisation of the consultation process was “rudimentary”.

The letter sent to the First Minister also described the size of the new Harris Academy building as too small.

Pupils who attend Menzieshill will transfer to Harris Academy for the start of the 2017-18 school year.

The council’s education convener, Stewart Hunter, is confident the move will benefit pupils by offering them access to improved facilities and a greater range of subjects.

A number of teachers from Menzieshill are expected to make the transition with their pupils.

The closure will also have an impact upon a number of primary schools, the catchment areas of which will change.

The council has pledged to meet the transport needs of pupils who will have to travel further to attend school.