Almost one million pounds needed to re-open Gartly School
The Primary - near Huntly - has been closed since December 2018 after an extensive oil leak, £451,000 has already been spent on remedial work. A report on the building is due to be discussed later this month.
Aberdeenshire Council have provided an update on Gartly School which has been closed since December 2018 due to an oil leak.
A report due to be discussed by Marr Area Committee in March has been delayed until November 24, owing to the unparalleled situation the local authority’s education officers have found themselves in due to the pandemic.
It's believed a further £872,000 - on top of £451,000 already spent - would be required to reinstate the building after further contamination was found underneath the site.
A report being prepared for Marr Area Committee will seek views from local members on whether they would prefer to re-instate the school – taking account of the risk that this may or may not fully satisfy strict public health requirements – or be provided with a full options appraisal on future options for the local school network following extensive engagement with the wider local community.
One of these options could ultimately lead to the closure of Gartly School but there is a presumption against the closure of rural schools. The educational benefit of doing so would have to be the primary driver in order for this to be progressed, in consultation with the community.
Laurence Findlay, Director of Education and Children’s Services at Aberdeenshire Council explained: “Every aspect of our work as a local authority is now carefully risk assessed, every leadership team in every school has endured a steep learning curve, with our support, to ensure working practices are as safe as possible. We’ve responded as best we can to evolving national guidance, alongside contingency planning, liaising with national colleagues and navigating the impact all of this has on young people and families, on our staff and learning, teaching and assessment, and on procurement, recruitment and funding.
“It’s important to explain all of this to highlight why the delay on working through the next steps for Gartly School has been absolutely necessary. We have had to focus on educational benefit in the here and now for the last few months, but we remain committed to fully exploring all options for the future of the school in the long term alongside the local community.”
Marr Area Committee Chair, Cllr Moira Ingleby said: “We appreciate the pressing nature of this from the Gartly community’s point of view and we have been pushing to get this back on the table at the earliest possible opportunity. I think it’s really useful that parents as well as community representatives have now had the opportunity to have a further discussion with senior officers and we will look forward to considering the updated report.”