Skipness School closure decision: letter to Argyll and Bute Council

Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010:  Argyll And Bute Council – Skipness Primary School

I refer to your letter of 25 August 2022 notifying Scottish Ministers of Argyll and Bute Council’s decision of 25 August 2022 to implement the proposal to close Skipness Primary School. Ministers have considered this proposal in line with the requirements set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”).

Under section 17 of the 2010 Act, Ministers may only issue a call-in notice if it appears to them that the education authority may have failed:

(a) in a significant regard to comply with the requirements imposed on it by (or under) the Act so far as they are relevant in relation to the closure proposal, or

(b) to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision to implement the proposal.

Section 15(2) of the 2010 Act requires an education authority to provide a copy of the proposal paper and the consultation report prepared under the Act to Ministers when notifying them of a closure proposal.

Section 15(4) of the 2010 Act requires Ministers to take into account any relevant representations made to them by any person during the 3 week period from the date that a closure decision is made. In relation to this closure proposal, the 3 week period began on 26 August 2022 and expired on 14 September 2022. No representations were received.

Having reviewed the documents provided by Argyll and Bute Council under section 15(2) and considered all relevant representations made under section 15(4), Ministers consider that Argyll and Bute Council has fulfilled its obligations under the 2010 Act and do not intend to issue a call-in notice for this proposal.

Argyll and Bute Council may now implement its decision to close Skipness Primary School in line with the timescales set out in its proposal paper.

As noted in the Education Scotland report, in taking forward the proposal to close Skipness Primary School, Argyll and Bute Council should continue to work with the Skipness community to explore options for the future use of the school building.

Yours sincerely,

Sam Anson

Deputy Director, Workforce, Infrastructure and Digital

Learning Directorate