Up to 10 schools in Edinburgh face closure under rationalisation plans being drawn up by the city council. The capital’s plans follow sweeping closures already announced by Glasgow and Dundee.
The city’s education committee yesterday (Thursday) approved in principle a scheme to close schools over the next year but did not name its targets, virtually all of which are in areas of deprivation.
Labour councillors are to form a working group to consider the options and report back to the committee in May. Elizabeth Maginnis, Edinburgh’s education convener, said: “There is an understanding in the community about the need for this. I have met with the headteachers’ executive and they have asked for a ‘quick and dirty exercise’ to remove the uncertainty as quickly as possible. ”
At least one secondary is expected to be on the hit list, although four in the city are under 60 per cent full, the minimum acceptable level of occupancy. Seventeen primaries are below the 60 per cent level. “But we won’t be closing 21 schools,” Mrs Maginnis said.
