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Government saves four threatened Western Isles schools 12/1/11
Four proposed school closures in the Western Isles have been rejected, Education Secretary Michael Russell announced this evening.
In the first instance of powers under the new Schools Consultation Act being used to prevent closure, Carloway (Lewis) and Shelibost (Harris) Primary Schools will remain open and S1/S2 provision at Lionel and Shawbost Schools in Lewis, both of which had been threatened with closure, will now continue.
The announcement was made in a statement to Parliament.
Mr Russell said: "This Government is committed to protecting and defending rural schools. We introduced the Schools Consultation Act to improve how communities are consulted on closure plans and ensure that educational benefits are at the heart of all decisions.
"Rural schools are a crucial part of the fabric of education provision in Scotland. Closure should only ever be a last resort and will only be allowed where there are clear educational benefits to pupils.
"The evidence shows there are credible alternatives to closure for the four Western Isles schools.
“The council has failed in its obligation under the Act to show that closing these schools is the last resort, or that there are no viable alternatives. I will not, therefore, allow these schools to close.”