EDUCATION chiefs in South Ayrshire are facing stiff opposition to plans to close primary schools and transfer pupils throughout the area, writes David Steele.
The council has called for the views of parents, school boards, and staff on proposed changes to schooling in North Ayr, Minishant and Fisherton by Dunure.
Officials have completed an investigation into the current provision of education and are suggesting that:
q North Ayr and Westwood nursery schools merge and relocate.
q Good Shepherd primary closes and relocates to St John's.
q Pupils from Minishant primary transfer to Gardenrose in Maybole.
q Pupils from Fisherton primary move to Gardenrose or Doonfoot.
It is also suggested that 28 pupils from the special needs Rosebank school should be transferred into mainstream education - a move which has already brought this response from school board chairman Chris Clow: ''We want to fight this. We do not see how putting the children into mainstream schools would benefit their education.''
Good Shepherd school board is to oppose the closure and is understood to have the backing of the Roman Catholic Church locally.
Mr Mike McCabe, director of educational services, said: ''We have the opportunity to rationalise some of the provision we have inherited from Strathclyde Regional Council and to make some changes which would significantly improve educational opportunities and offer a better school experience for a number of children.
''We are now beginning an informal process of consultation with interested groups, which will lead in due course to the more formal process required by statute.''
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