Councillors agree to close Glencorse
Councillors have agreed to close Glencorse Primary in Penicuik from June of this year after hearing the small number of pupils attending the school will benefit from a wider range of learning opportunities at nearby schools with more children of their own age and stage.
Special meeting today
The decision came at a special meeting of the full Council today (Tuesday) to consider the outcome of the statutory consultation.
Mauricewood and Roslin catchments to be extended
Councillors approved recommendations to stop education provision at the school and extend the catchment areas of Mauricewood and Roslin Primary Schools to include the Glencorse catchment from August 2021.
Pupils can choose which school to attend
Remaining pupils will be given the choice of going to Mauricewood or Roslin Primary schools as will the families of younger children living in the current catchment when they become school age.
School transport
School transport will be provided for all the children affected if there is no safe walking route to school and/or the distance from home to school is more than two miles.
Seven children at Glencorse
Currently 78 children live in the Glencorse catchment but only seven attend the school.
Thanks to those who gave views
Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Jim Muirhead said: “Many thanks to everyone who gave their views during the consultation.
Greater learning opportunities
“We realise today’s decision will be disappointing to some families and, while we recognise the quality of the education provision at the school, we agree it will be beneficial for children to move to either Roslin or Mauricewood nearby where they can enjoy a wider range and breadth of learning opportunities with children at the same age and stage as them.”
Education Scotland report conclusion
A report by Education Scotland, Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, also concluded moving pupils to Mauricewood or Roslin would bring potential educational benefits. The council must notify Scottish Ministers within six days of the decision and provide them with a copy of the proposal document and consultation proposal.
Scottish Ministers will be informed
The Scottish Ministers have eight weeks from the date of that final decision to decide if they will call-in the proposal. The legislation allows for anyone to make representations to Scottish Ministers within three weeks of the decision to close the school.