Four Edinburgh schools back in firing line

THE first four primary schools facing the hit-list for potential closure have been identified, it emerged today.

Lismore, Bonnington, Victoria and Westburn are understood to meet all the criteria – which include poor attainment, falling rolls and high running costs – set by education leaders drawing up the school closure programme.

The Evening News understands this has led to all four being placed on a "high priority" list for closure, though education chiefs insist no decisions have yet been made.

It comes after a cross-party group set up to look at the "rationalisation" of the school estate met yesterday for the fourth time. Although the forum meets in private, sources say the four schools were discussed in detail.

The schools identified were all on the council's original closure list which was scrapped last summer, and it is believed a full list, which will include more schools, could be announced in June.

City director of education, Gillian Tee, however, insisted today that the forum is "not ready to recommend any school for closure".

Parents of children at Lismore Primary were furious after a source told them their school is set to face the axe once again.

The Bingham school has been threatened with closure twice in recent years, with parents setting up the Lismore Parents Action Group in 2004 to fight the plans.

Maggie Paterson, chair of the school's parent council, today vowed the fight will continue.

She said: "I'm not surprised that Lismore is on the list again.

"I'm confident that the Bingham community will stand strong and we are going to fight it.

"We expected they would pick on the poorer communities."

Gail Ross, secretary of Lismore Parents Action Group, said it was "disgusting" that the four schools were again facing the axe.

She said: "It's funny how they are all deprived schools in deprived areas.

"They are trying to take away from the needy once again."

The rationalisation forum, which includes councillors, city officials and representatives of teachers, parents and churches, are deciding on which schools to put forward for closure by examining city schools in "clusters".

It is understood the six clusters are in Edinburgh's most deprived areas, in Leith, Granton, Wester Hailes, Craigmillar, Gracemount and West Edinburgh.

Ms Tee said today: "At (yesterday's) meeting the group discussed population projections, the effect of immigration on school rolls and the Scottish Government's request that local authorities work towards having primary class sizes of 18 .

"The group also took on board feedback from the Consultative Committee for Parents and School Councils on the criteria for evaluating the school estate.

"We are still discussing the primary estate and my officers have been asked to come back to the next meeting of the forum with more detailed information.

"I am absolutely clear that the forum is not ready to recommend any school for closure or amalgamation at this stage."

It was revealed last month that secondary schools in Edinburgh have been given a three-year reprieve from possible closure.