Longhaven school closure to be made permanent
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A mothballed north-east school is to be closed for good following approval by Aberdeenshire Council.
Longhaven School has been closed since 2018 after a replacement head teacher was never found.
A statutory consultation into the closure was launched in December last year and parents were encouraged to have their say on the plan.
The consultation closed in February and councillors of the Buchan area committee backed the move in April.
The fate of the school was decided at a meeting of full council on Thursday (June 30).
Education and children’s services chairwoman, councillor Gillian Owen, said the closure was the “only viable decision left”.
But she said the proposal would lead to”educational benefit” for young people in the area as they would gain access to larger peer groups, leadership opportunities and additional activities and clubs at other schools.
Councillor Anne Simpson said: “The future of Longhaven has been discussed on a number of occasions at Buchan area committee.
“The community around the school has had the opportunity to engage with this consultation and it is useful to read all of their views.
“Considering all the feedback received I believe the decision to proceed with closure is the correct one.”
Meanwhile, councillor Stephen Smith said there was “sadness and disappointment” to be making the decision but agreed it was the right one.
He said: “In 2005 at this very full council there was almost the exact same paper in front of us recommending that the school be closed.
“The outcome of that was that the school remained open and carried on as a highly regarded school serving the community for the next decade and a half.”
He added: “The community obviously don’t want to be in the position that they are in but there is a recognition that we are where we are.
“The main focus for the community now is moving forward and seeing the building repurposed.”
Councillor Smith noted that “lessons can be learned” from the Longhaven process.
He said: “While we should never place a block on people’s careers or their ambitions it must be possible that in such situations we can look to put in place a temporary solution until an appointment can be made.
“I think we should reflect on the process and how it might affect other single-teacher schools when teachers are looking to move on.”
Play equipment in the school playground that was purchased by the parent council will be removed.
Pupils in the current Longhaven catchment area will now attend either Boddam or Port Erroll schools.
