A Fife councillor whose ward includes closure-marked Tanshall Primary in Glenrothes has promised to oppose the “deeply flawed” closure of the school when a report comes to Fife Council’s executive committee next month.
SNP councillor Peter Grant, who represents the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie ward, made the comment after he and campaigners had their first sight of the council’s response to concerns raised by pupils, parents, carers and staff at the threatened school, as well as those of HM Inspectors of Education (HMIE).
Mr Grant said: “Pupils were 164 to four against closing the school, parents and carers were 104 to one against, and staff were 100% against closing the school.
“This level of support is truly astonishing and is an indication of the loyalty and dedication the school inspires in its entire community.
“In nearly 22 years as a councillor, I don’t remember ever seeing such universal and passionate support for a school.
“These same parents, carers, staff and pupils are now left feeling that the council couldn’t care less what they think.
“The reaction I’ve had from Tanshall in the last few hours is that they feel like they’ve been patted on the head and told to go away, don’t worry, let the council sort everything out.
“Even the serious concerns raised by the inspectors are given short shrift.
“The council goes as far as to suggest that the recognised independent, impartial experts from HMIE don’t know what ‘educational benefit’ means.
“I can find no indication anywhere in the report that the council has changed a single word of its proposal to take account of the community’s objections.
“There’s still not a single word anywhere to tell us why Glenrothes was targeted in the first place, and not a single word to explain why the council leapt straight into the school closure process without looking for alternatives.
“This was a deeply flawed proposal from the beginning. It’s not surprising that the final consultation report fails to make a credible case for closing the school, because there is no case and there never has been.
“The council must listen to what people are telling them, they must take seriously the concerns coming from HMIE, they must ditch this proposal and lift the axe that’s been hanging over this school for far too long.”
Council directorate resources manager Shelagh McLean said: “Following an extensive consultation exercise on the future of our school buildings, councillors now have a report with all the information they need to make decisions.
“In getting to this point we have followed the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act.
“The report does state that ‘on the basis of the principles in the school estate review, the closure of Tanshall PS represents the most viable way to provide sustainable primary education in this part of Glenrothes.’
“A meeting of the council’s executive committee is planned for February 11 when councillors will take final decisions on the way forward.”