Parents to speak out as school closures planned

Scores of parents were today getting the chance to air theirviews on a massive educational shake-up.

The official consultation on a number of closure-threatenedschools across Aberdeen was due to start today.

The city council plans to shut and merge a number of schoolswithin two years.

Statutory consultation papers on the possible closing of the citycentre's Causewayend and Torry's Victoria Road primaries were due tobe available from today.

Briefings on these and the possible closure of Hilton Nursery and merger of Northfield's Byron Park Nursery and Infant School withWesterton Primary School will be held at schools over the comingweeks.

Following the statutory 28-day consultation period the officers'recommendations will then go to the education committee on April 29and full council the day after for a decision.

Meanwhile, furious parents of children at Victoria Road Schoolwere due to stage a protest outside Torry Academy today.

The demonstration was expected to take place when MSP MaureenWatt, minister for schools and skills, pictured, was due to visit.

A public meeting was also planned at Stoneywood School tonightbetween Stoneywood Parent Council and John Tomlinson, corporatedirector for neighbourhood services (North Area).

Councillors Mark Macdonald, Barney Crockett and George Penny andBrian Adam MSP were due to attend.

But some parents at Byron Park Infant school and Nursery - which teaches pupils until they leave primary three - and WestertonPrimary School were not as concerned as those at other schools.

Teresa Walker's four-year-old daughter, Rebecca, is a nurserypupil at Byron Park, and her seven-year-old, Amee, goes toWesterton Primary.

The 36-year-old accommodation officer said: "Maybe it is a goodidea - both schools are in the same area.

"It is hard to say if it will work or not - the little onesstarting in primary one might not feel as comfortable at the biggerschool.

"But they can see each other from the playground as it is."

Further talks will follow on closing Kittybrewster and Stoneywoodprimaries as well as merging of Donbank and St Machar primaries,Bucksburn and Newhills and Middleton Park and Glashieburn schools.

ktaylor@ajl.co.uk