School closure

Isles MP, Angus MacNeil, has submitted his response to the consultation on the proposed closure of Lionel secondary school in Lewis.

Mr MacNeil has asked the Scottish Government - which may consider calling in the decision - to investigate the way the secondary school has been “basically run down” by the Comhairle since 2012.

He also questions if the council consulted with everyone that would be affected by the closure.

The Comhairle recently voted by 16-15 to close Lionel secondary - with decision was decided by the casting vote of the Convenor after the vote was tied 15-15.

Mr MacNeil said: “Since councillors voted to keep the secondary department at Lionel open in June 2012, a number of factors have contributed to parents losing confidence in the running of the Secondary Department.

“The catchment area was changed, the removal of the head teacher’s post in June 2013, caused instability in the school, parents complained about staffing issues to the education department, but this fell on deaf ears.

“This uncertainty resulted in some parents bypassing the School and sending their kids directly to first year in the Nicolson Institute. This resulted in a drop in pupil numbers.

Mr Macneil said numbers for the next few years are going to “increase dramatically” from this summer onwards.

He added: “I would hope that before any decision is made on the Lionel Secondary, all points are taken into consideration.”

Council “ran down” rural school towards closure, claims MP

10 March 2015