Council approves permanent closure of Cordyce School

26 January 2018

Councillors yesterday (Thursday 25 January) approved the permanent closure of Cordyce School.

The closure, which will be effective as of April this year, follows a six week public consultation which ended in October 2017. No pupils have been enrolled at the school since August 2017.

The main school building was largely destroyed by fire in November 2017 and will require demolition. At the time of the fire, the school had no pupils on its roll as a result of a transformation in teaching children and young people with mental, emotional and social support.

Education and Children’s Services Convener, Councillor John Wheeler, said: “We are transforming the way in which we educate children and young people with additional support needs away from specialist schools to an inclusive approach at local mainstream schools with appropriate support in place.

“With that in mind, and with the fire damage caused, it is a common sense decision that we have taken. Importantly, staff will not be affected as they have already been transferred to other schools across the city.”

Under the requirements of Section 15(2A) of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, Aberdeen City Council has notified Scottish Ministers of this decision, and there will be a three week period during which stakeholders and members of the public can make representations to Scottish Ministers regarding the planned closure of the school. This representation period will end on Wednesday 14 February 2018.

Representations should be submitted by email to: schoolclosure@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, or by post to: The Scottish Government, School Infrastructure Unit, 2A (South), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ, before midnight on 14 February 2018.

Scottish Ministers will consider any representations made to them within this period in order to help determine whether the Council's decision on the closure of Cordyce School should be called in for further scrutinisation.

Copies of the Council's original proposal document and final consultation report on the proposed closure of the school can be downloaded from the Council website: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/schools-consultations/schools-consultations.

Further information on the Scottish Government's procedures for considering school closure proposals can be found at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/2/crossheading/callin-by-the-scottish-ministers

Councillors also approved recommendations that four other sites be declared as surplus and removed from the Education and Children’s Services property portfolio:

the former Hazlewood School building; the former Bucksburn School and Nursery building; the existing Stoneywood School building (to take effect following the opening of the replacement Stoneywood School building scheduled to open in August 2018); and: the existing Kincorth Academy building (to take effect following the opening of the new Lochside Academy building, scheduled to open in August 2018).