John Swinney to decide "shortly" if he'll hold New School at Butterstone inquiry
The additional support unit in Perthshire shut suddenly last November and parents want the education secretary to decide if he'll hold a review
Last updated 11th Sep 2019
The education secretary says he'll decide "shortly" if he'll hold an inquiry into the sudden closure of The New School at Butterstone.
24 additional needs students were left in limbo when the Perthshire facility closed last November.
Bosses cited financial problems - but parent Derek Roy doesn't think it's as simple as that.
"We can't find any credibility in saying that finance was at fault. Yes I agree the board were inept, they are not blameless in this," he said
"But they were not the principle reason in the school being forced to close."
Parents have held meetings with the Education Secretary over the last ten months and last week reached out again to ask for answers.
John Swinney said "I've listened very carefully to parents of the former Butterstone school. I've looked in detail at the issues they've raised with me and I'm obviously looking at one of those which is an inquiry into the closure of the school.
"I'm looking very carefully at the advice that I've been given on this question and I will come to a conclusion shortly.
"I'll come to a decision as soon as I can do based on the evidence that I'm looking at"
Derek's 14-year-old son Nairn was a pupil there. He's currently attending the new facility Butterstone House on a part time basis.
"We live over a 100 miles away from this school as there is no local supervision that is suitable for Nairn's profile."
"The New School at Butterstone was a unique resource, it was amazing to see our children to develop and thrive.
"The new provision is of course starting afresh, time can only tell how they'll be able to replace that void that Butterstone has left.
"I think it will take a lot of time for kids to re-adjust, if ever. We have been granted a ten week trial to see if it will work.
"But it took us 18 months to have Nairn in three days week successfully."
Hear all the latest news from across Tayside, Perthshire and Angus on the hour, every hour, at Tay FM. Listen on FM, via our Radio Tay app, on your DAB radio, online at TAYFM.co.uk, or say ‘Play TAY FM’ on your Smart Speaker.