COSLA’s Leadership Reject Moratorium on Rural School Closures

Updated | We’ll be commenting in depth on this press release in due course but for now here is the full text of the COSLA press release — the timing of this could not be more significant, and it is evident that COSLA are working hand-in-hand with Argyll and Bute Council.

“Following in–depth discussion and serious consideration of the issue, COSLA’s Leadership Board (made up of The President, Political Group Leaders, Spokespersons and Vice Presidents), has decided to reject the Education Cabinet Secretary’s call for a voluntary moratorium on the process of rural schools closures in Scotland.

“Commenting today (Monday) COSLA President Councillor Pat Watters said: “There was a clear view that no case had been made for such a moratorium and that the terms in which the Cabinet Secretary had described the need for a moratorium undermined local government’s careful management of rural education. Councils do understand the legislation that currently exists, councils do have the best interests of all their pupils in terms of education attainment as their number one priority, councils do recognise the impact of rural school closures on broader community and township development, and while councils do append a financial statement around school closure programmes, this is not because they are driven by finance but rather because to ignore financial implications would be unprofessional and unrealistic. The truth is of 35 schools proposed for closure, few have been called in and the Minister has only felt able to refuse the closure of 4 of these under the current legislation. These figures hardly represent a crisis in rural school management.

““With regard to the proposal for a commission, COSLA’s Leadership Board considered that such a proposal could have some merit. However, to put rural school closures in the context of development of rural communities requires a discussion of housing, planning, economic development, education, leisure facilities, etc. Given the overwhelming importance of these Local Government services in rural development, it seems perverse that no discussion has taken place with Local Government or COSLA on the Cabinet Secretary’s proposals for a Commission.”

“Councillor Watters concluded: “There are always tensions when it comes to school closures. In the rural setting, these may be particularly acute and it may be argued impinge to a greater extent on other rural development issues so some discussion with Ministers about how these tensions can be resolved would be no bad thing. In this context, COSLA’s Leadership believes a commission may do some good but Local Government cannot be simply a participant in this commission, it must be the co-author of its terms of reference, membership, ways of working, etc.

““COSLA will be seeking immediate meetings with the First Minister and Cabinet Secretaries regarding what appear to Local Government to be thoughts that require further development before they could be effective.””

Update 20.36, 13/06/11
Michael Russell, Minister for Education and MSP for Argyll and Bute has issued a response to this Press Release:

“Potential school closures are a source of great anxiety to parents, teachers, pupils and all those affected, so with the last year having seen a number of varied interpretations of the 2010 legislation, as well as strong criticism of the Act and its operation from COSLA itself as well as from a number of communities , it is absolutely clear that something needed to be done .

“The Commission on the Delivery of Rural Education will consider all the issues surrounding rural education, and a moratorium on proposals for the next twelve months will ensure it can work effectively and fairly.

“The Scottish Government’s proposals were welcomed by all sides of the Scottish Parliament during the discussion of the Cabinet Secretary’s statement last week. He also made it clear at that time that the Government wants to work with COSLA and others on this issue, and to move forward in a spirit of partnership. That remains his intention.