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Last chance to influence new school closure rules              28/12/11

The Scottish Government is encouraging people to contribute their views about closing rural schools before the mid-January deadline of a special commission.

In what was seen as a consequence of a controversial dispute with Western Isles Council’s interpretation of new rules, education minister Mike Russell established a special panel to examine the community-wide importance of saving schools in rural areas.

The isles’ council is still taking the Scottish Government to court in a bid to legally overturn Mr Russell’s decision to block the local authority from axing  a number of island schools.

Mr Russell stopped it from shutting Carloway Primary, and Shawbost and Lionel secondaries on Lewis as well as Seilebost Primary on Harris.

He maintained Western Isles council failed to properly evaluate the negative impacts.

A one-day hearing in the Court of Session was due to take place this month but has now been postponed until March and extended to a three-day timetable.

Under recent new legislation, a local authority must properly consider how a threatened school, particularly those at the heart of an ailing community, could be retained by looking at alternatives.

At the time, Mr Russell said councils should not put money savings before other considerations they are legally obliged to take into account.

He believed the delivery of education in rural communities is about much more than a school building and is fundamental to the social and economic make-up of a community.

He wanted communities to have the right to genuine consultation based on accurate information and reinforced a clear legal presumption against closure.

But the council eventually agree to a one-year Scotland-wide moratorium not to vote to scrap any further schools until the Commission on Rural Education had issued its findings.

The body is inviting evidence and views from the public up until 16th January.

Parents and interested organisations across rural Scotland have already taken the opportunity to submit their views on how to maximise the attainment and achievement of children and young people in rural areas of Scotland to the Commission.

Commission Chair, Sheriff David Sutherland, said: "I am heartened though not at all surprised at the level of response we have received to the Commission's Call for Evidence.

“We are keen to tap in to real-life experiences of the delivery of rural education and I would encourage anyone with a view on any aspect of this who has not already responded, to do so.”

He stressed: "The responses to this call for evidence will be essential to the Commission's considerations and final recommendations on the future of rural education in Scotland.”