I wish to register my concerns over the Council's proposals to close Cousland, Borthwick, Cranston and Temple Primary Schools in my Parliamentary Constituency of Midlothian.

Whilst recognising that Midlothian Council has the statutory responsibility to make decisions on school closures I would like to make the following points:

• I have had more representations on this issue than any other in the last five years that I have been the MSP for Midlothian. There is clearly a great deal of opposition among the parents of all the four schools involved.
• Midlothian Council have failed to take account of the prevailing Scottish strategic policy framework as set out in key Scottish Executive policy statements
• Midlothian Council have not applied the test of proportionate advantage as set out in 1998 by the then Education Minister Brian Wilson and which remains policy today as stated by Peter Peacock MSP Minister for Education and children
• The Scottish Executive have a clear policy on rural areas as set out in "A Partnership for a Better Scotland" 2003 (Joint Statement by the Leaders of the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats) This sets out clearly the Executive policy on rural Scotland. "We are committed to maintaining strong, prosperous and growing communities in rural Scotland"
• There is clear Scottish Executive policy in "Rural Scotland: A New Approach" which also sets out the importance of rural communities "We will invest in our young people by bringing childcare, education, training and employment opportunities to where they live and work. Getting on need not mean going away." Ross Finnie 2002
• Peter Peacock stated in the Scottish Parliament on 29th April 2004 that "We are keen to have joined up policies in the Executive and to ensure that the Education Department is working in tune with Ross Finnie's department on sustainable rural policies, therefore, by definition, any circulars that we issue to further illuminate how we want things to be done will have to refer to the rural dimension of life and to sustainable rural communities."
• Midlothian Council itself has policy on rural areas set out in the finalised Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan, the Midlothian Local Plan and the East Lothian and Midlothian Rural Economic Strategy. The Economic Strategy sets out the importance of the rural economy with 10% of employment in Midlothian coming directly from agriculture and the importance of other rural employment. There does not appear to have been a read across from rural policy to education policy by the Council.
• In the vicinity of the village of Cousland there are approximately 60 one person businesses. Many people come to Midlothian to set up rural businesses and the local school is an undoubted attraction. If the rural primary schools were to close this could have a negative effect on local rural businesses in Midlothian.
• There is no evidence to suggest that attainment levels are higher in larger schools. In fact the Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication "Social Focus on Urban Rural Scotland" 2003 states that "There is also evidence to support the claim that on average attainment in accessible and remote rural primary schools is higher than in schools across other parts of Scotland"
• Midlothian Council's own 5-14 statistics show that the rural schools perform well. (Percentage of all P3,P4,P6 and P7 pupils attaining or exceeding minimum 5-14 levels for their stage - June 2003)
• The Scottish Executive is not aware of any evidence to indicate that pupils from rural schools are less fit than pupils from urban schools. Nor does it have any evidence that the fabric of school buildings alone accounts for differences in attainment.
• The provision of services such as education is more expensive in rural areas. However the Revenue Grant Funding to local councils from the Scottish Executive is worked out on the basis of rurality amongst other considerations so the extra costs involved in rural areas are taken into account. (This point was made by Peter Peacock in evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education committee on Wed. 28th April 2004)
• I do have some concerns that the consultation process was unsatisfactory in that the initial information contained in the document about the fabric of some of the school buildings was inaccurate although I understand that further information has been made available to parents. Concern has also been expressed to me that it is not seen as satisfactory that pupils take home consultation documents.
• Parents from Borthwick Primary School have made the point to me that the school roll is currently capped. If that is indeed the case it would seem that the provisions of the 1981 regulations which state that where a school is over 80% full consent to close it must be sought from Scottish ministers.
• With regard to the Disability Discrimination Act responsible bodies are required to prepare and implement accessibility strategies to improve over time access to education for disabled pupils. These strategies should include improving the physical environment of the school to improve access. However there is no current legislation which says that a school should be closed on the basis of the DDA legislation.

For the above reasons I would urge Midlothian Council to reconsider their proposals to close Borthwick, Cousland, Cranston and Temple Primary schools.

Rhona Brankin

Scottish Parliament April 30th 2004