Proposed closures of Kinbrace Primary School and Black Isle Education Centre

18th May 2016

The Highland Council is to seek the views of local communities on the future of two Highland educational establishments - Kinbrace Primary School and Black Isle Education Centre.

Members of the Councils Education, Children and Adult Services Committee have agreed to undertake separate public consultations on proposals to formally close the schools.

Mothballed since the summer of 2013, the proposal for Kinbrace Primary school is that current children in the Kinbrace area would attend Helmsdale Primary School, which is around 17 miles away. In practice pupils from the Kinbrace catchment have been attending Helmsdale Primary School since July 2013.

Usage of the Black Isle Education Centre has changed significantly in recent years. There are presently no young people enrolled as pupils. Those pupils who are still attending the Centre do so, on a flexible part-time basis, and the Council proposes to provide support to them in other ways.

The consultations will take place under procedures set down in The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The views of parents, school pupils, the local community and others will be sought over a period extending from 30 May to 24 August 2016.

Public meetings about the proposed closures of the two facilities will be held as follows:
• at Kinbrace Primary School at 7pm on 22 June.
• at Black Isle Education Centre at 7pm on 29 June.

The proposal papers and associated documentation will be available on the Highland Council website from 30 May, on the Councils website at www.highland.gov.uk/schoolconsultations.

PHOTO
KinbracePrimary School
Photographer - Bill Fernie