HUTTON SCHOOL. The Omens are not all propitious.
Today’s Berwickshire’s top story, eclipsing the visit of the Duke of York to Eyemouth, is the Borders Councillors voting to keep open Eccles/Leitholm Primary School despite the recommendation by the Education Department that it should be closed. Another Borders’ School at Roberton was also saved at the same meeting. “There were tears of joy on the last day for parents and pupils” writes the Berwickshire reporter who comments that it was the strength of parents campaign (on Eccles) and the case they put forward persuaded two thirds of the Councillors to agree that the school should stay open
If Councillors are voting to keep schools under threat open this could be good news for Hutton whose fate is being determined by the Council in August. The one Berwickshire school to have been closed under this review, Cranshaws, did so with the acceptance of the community but Hutton and Burnmouth are putting up a fight. Ominously three of the seven Berwickshire Councillors voted to close Eccles/Leitholm-how will they vote on the other two county schools: Hutton and Burnmouth is not known but Councillor Elliot stated that ‘we are proving ourselves to be an ineffective Council’ His point being that recommendations to close schools have only been made after exhaustive consideration and it was irresponsible to now rubbish them. On the other hand the leader of the council seconded amendments to retain Roberton and Eccles thus effectively opposing recommendations made by his officials. One of the other Councillors pointed out that keeping unviable schools would have implications for the Council Tax ‘We are representing a lot more than just people who have children at school’
I have heard a lot of complimentary comments made about the campaign conducted by Burnmouth Parents and support group. Hutton has been less visible and vocal recently but then I have been away. But comments have been made that Burnmouth has marshalled well reasoned arguments (on the lines put forward by Eccles) whilst Hutton’s campaign has been more emotional. Apparently some Borders Council educational officials feel that the Hutton targeting has been too personalised and this has seriously upset some of them. But it is the Councillors who take the decision and not officials but as a general rule reason is more effective than rhetoric.Especially when you are trying to convince people who have no local axe to grind.We shall see. But if Councillors vote to keep Burnmouth and to close Hutton some very serious questions will be asked in these parts.
I hope it won't come to that
Seasoned bloggees will note that thereis no mention of Tiger Tim.At least the last remaining Aussie has also gone out-so mixed emotions in the Sydney Morning Herald and perhaps a few splashes below Sydney Harbour Bridge. At least no one compained about the Swiss Umpire on the centre court!
