Press Release
Scottish Ministers decision on Scalloway Junior High School secondary department
The Scottish Ministers have informed Shetland Islands Council's Schools Service today that the SIC decision of 8 December 2010 to close the Scalloway Junior High School secondary department can proceed.
Education provision at the Junior High School secondary department will be discontinued with effect from 30 June 2011 and the pupils will continue their education at the Anderson High School from 17 August 2011.
Councillor Betty Fullerton, Chair of the Services Committee said of the decision,
“The support by the Ministers of the decision to close Scalloway School's secondary department demonstrates governmental support for the council as the struggle to save money and sustain quality education continues.
“Local people have worked hard to demonstrate their appreciation of the school and how much it means to the community. I know that they will be hugely disappointed at the outcome.
“I know that staff, parents and pupils of Scalloway School will be very disappointed with the decision and I thank them for the hard work they have put into the school over the years.
“All council staff in the Blueprint for Education Exercise have also worked very hard throughout and I pay tribute to their dedication to the job in hand. I’m confident that the process to move the pupils will now be taken forward with the least disruption to pupils possible.”
A Transition Group will now be set up, led by the Quality Improvement Officer for Scalloway Junior High School, and including relevant school staff from both schools. The role of this group will be to plan the effective transition of pupils. It will ensure pupils are supported in getting used to the new school environment at the Anderson High School.
Parents will be contacted with further details of the transition arrangements to be put in place and opportunities to meet collectively and individually will be made available as soon as possible.
The detail of the decision by the Scottish Ministers