The Kintyre Forum

Parents and carers of pupils of Southend Primary School have just received letters saying that the Council is proposing to close Southend Primary School in favour of merging it with Drumlemble Primary School at the end of June.

It is ironic that this should come on the day that the parents of Southend have just had the new playpark, that they developed and fundraised for, completed (ahead of schedule) because this is indeed a distinct community, some distance from other facilities for children such as playparks and schools.

Currently my five year old gets a bus at the end of our track at 8.30am to go to Southend Primary. I would assume that if he was forced to go to Drumlemble he would need to leave before 8am and come back after 4.15pm. This is quite unreasonable and I hope that the wider community will see that this is not a viable option to inflict on young children. Let alone how parents will cope with accessing nursery provision?

The School is also the heart of the village, used by community groups, with an excellent annual Halloween Party by the WRI being held last night.

I can see that this decision must have been made by bean counters rather than people who have any concept of the geography or communities down here.

Have other schools been affected in Kintyre?

Will any of our Councillors fight this decision?

Nov 2nd refers to the meeting where it will be decided whether to go ahead with a public consultation on this proposal.

Proposals can be seen here

http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/content/n ... al/3317410

What a strange proposal to come up with. Closing Southend and pupils having to travel 10 miles to Drumlemble, a school that is staying open even though it is only a five minute journey to a primary in Campbeltown. Even pupils at Sound of Kintyre would only travel about 8 minutes to a school in Campbeltown.

There must be someone very influential on the Council to argue that Drumlemble shouldn't close and leave Southend open.

howlsatthemoon wrote:Proposals can be seen here

http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/content/n ... al/3317410

So Glenbarr will be closed and the kids will go to Clachan. How odd too?

With regards Southend closing. What a crazy decision!!!

Isa wrote:What a strange proposal to come up with. Closing Southend and pupils having to travel 10 miles to Drumlemble, a school that is staying open even though it is only a five minute journey to a primary in Campbeltown. Even pupils at Sound of Kintyre would only travel about 8 minutes to a school in Campbeltown.

Southend can't get closed. It's too far outside the town to travel to and from everyday! Would it not make more sense to combine Drumlemble with one of the bigger schools in the town, and leave Southend open.

D.H wrote:It is ironic that this should come on the day that the parents of Southend have just had the new playpark, that they developed and fundraised for, completed (ahead of schedule) because this is indeed a distinct community, some distance from other facilities for children such as playparks and schools.

Can't wait to see this new park, from the pictures it looks like its going to be fantastic for all the kids in the community...

Yes, that'll be what will happen. Drumlemble will close, but to justify it the council have to pretend they are considering closing Southend, so that a big fuss is kicked up about that , which then allows them to take the decision to close Drumlemble, which has probably already been made. They surely can't close Southend after spending all that money recently extending it and installing the safety lights outside. It's this "due process" stuff that councils go through because they are accountable and have to show that they considered all options before taking such a big decision.

It is important to realise these proposals are just that - proposals, I would expect that it will be agreed to go to consultation at the Executive Meeting. I will be questioning the logic behind the proposal regarding Southend PS and the figures that justify it. It will be vitally important, particularly given the number of schools involved in total, that justification for each is understood no matter how unpalatable and to understand that proposals can be overturned where that proposal is found wanting. It will not be influence within the council that stops any decision going ahead but argument that the proposal is unreasonable in educational terms compared to others. I will be happy to attend meetings with parents of Southend School or individual parents. I am not convinced that this is a robust proposal but I won’t be going into the ins and outs of it on this forum – it’s all too sensitive and open to abuse.

One presumes you mean : open to abuse by politicians. Were the people of Campbeltown not abused by the false claims of a prominent politician who recently addressed them regarding the future of jobs at SkyCON ?

I went to school in Southend, 1979-86 Mr and Mrs Henderson and all that, the best education a child could have total in school 27. Now my kids go to a school of 800 good education but it's not Southend, don't close!!!!!!!

glenn wrote:One presumes you mean : open to abuse by politicians. Were the people of Campbeltown not abused by the false claims of a prominent politician who recently addressed them regarding the future of jobs at SkyCON ?

Not sure what you are suggesting Glenn but I think your proving my point

Proposals also include consultation on Glenbarr, Rhunoharione (sP!) and Skipness - with all of them going to Clachan. Thats some journey from those south of Glenbarr, or as far north as Skipness. Probably 15+ miles in some cases. Assume that the proposals also include nursery aged children - heck of a treck for a 4 year old!

from Mike Russell Scotlands Education Secretary - worth a read, points the way to impliment "presumption against closure of rural schools"

http://forargyll.com/2010/10/education- ... -and-bute/

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how many pupils attend Southend Primary?

There will be 22 children attending Southend School in Aug 2011, Drumlemble will have 27 children, only 5 more than Southend. P1/3 - 10 children P4/7 - 12 children..