Inspectors back school closures
SCHOOL inspectors have backed North Lanarkshire Council's plans to close Belvidere Primary in Bellshill, St Matthew's Primary in Wishawhill and Newarthill Nursery Centre.
The proposals to shut the three facilities, along with others in Cumbernauld and Coatbridge, will be considered at a special meeting of the learning and leisure services committee on Tuesday, March 23.
Belvidere pupils would transfer to either Lawmuir, Mossend or Noble Primary, while St Matthew's pupils would transfer to St Brendan's or St Thomas' Primary.
Shutting the schools along with St Francis of Assisi in Cumbernauld and Gartsherrie Primary in Coatbridge is anticipated to save North Lanarkshire Council around 800,000 a year for three years.
As part of the consultation process HMIe was asked for its opinion of the proposals.
On Belvidere and St Matthew's they reported: "On balance, children who are currently in Belvidere Primary or St Matthew's Primary or who would have been pupils in future years are likely to benefit from the proposed changes."
Closing Newarthill Nursery Centre would save around 86,000 with the creation of 60 nursery places at St Teresa's Primary or 70 places split between St Teresa's and Keir Hardie Memorial.
HMIe is markedly less enthusiastic about the closure of Newarthill Nursery Centre.
It reported: "HMIe gives cautious support to the closure proposal so long as the implications are successfully explained and the transfer effectively managed."
Full story in March 11 edition of Times & Speaker
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