 Islanders argued closures would lead to further depopulation |
Parental pressure has proved successful after councillors in Shetland threw out plans to close five rural primary schools and one secondary. Shetland Council decided to keep open Scotland's smallest secondary school on one of the islands of Skerries, which has a roll of two pupils.
The council had been advised to provide "value for money" and that larger schools provided better education.
Education inspectors urged it to reduce last year's �35m spending.
About 70 parents and children gathered at Lerwick's Town Hall on Monday to state their opposition to the controversial school closure plans.
Fourteen-year-old Christopher Hay and his brother Brian, 13, make up the entire roll of Skerries secondary school.
 |  Small, rural schools with falling rolls have got below the size of being educationally viable  |
Earlier, they said they wanted to remain at the school. Christopher said: "I think it would be far better staying here and I don't want to go away at such a young age.
"At my school the teachers can explain things better and they have more time for you."
It takes about 20 minutes by plane to get to Skerries School.
The islands lie 24 miles north east of Lerwick and represent a fishing community with a population of 70.
Brenda Hay said she wanted her sons to stay at the school until they were 16.
'Falling rolls'
"Small secondary schools can work well and my eldest son left this school with really good exam results and I'm wanting the same for my other two boys," she said.
The local authority currently delivers its education service through a network of 34 schools, but has said this is no longer financially viable.
Before the council rejected the proposals, Councillor Bill Manson said larger schools would provide a better education for pupils and should not be viewed in a negative light.
He added: "These schools are in the main small, rural schools with falling rolls which have got below the size of being educationally viable.
"I realise that a school is important to a community and has its place within that community.
"However, I think matters such as access and jobs are actually more important.
"The empirical evidence is that closure of a school does not necessarily lead to the closure of communities."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 