Dunottar School saved from closure
Parents rejoice as the Board of Governors decide Dunottar School will stay open
On Saturday, as the Dunottar community enjoyed Love Dunottar Day, a celebration of the school's 87-year history, the Board of Governors debated the options for the school's future.
Parents and pupils of Dunottar school, which has been threatened with closure due to "worsening financial forecast" and dwindling pupil numbers, waited nervously as the board discussed possible outcomes.
After a review of the alternatives, the board agreed with Dunottar Voice, who have been campaigning to keep the school open, that United Learning should take over the school. The conclusion of the marathon meeting was the selection of United Learning as the school's new owner (subject to contracts being agreed and signed).
"I am so happy" said one pupil. "If my school closed I would be sad as I would have to make new friends all over again and say goodbye to my favourite teacher. I can't wait to go back to school after half term. My friends will be so excited."
On hearing the news early on Sunday morning, the leader of Dunottar Voice, John Godden, commented: "We are of course delighted. It has been a very intense few weeks and we are very grateful to the Board for bringing their deliberations forward so that we could get an answer at the beginning of half term, a critical decision-making time for both parents and teachers. We have spent an amount of time with United Learning and are very confident of their ability to bring our school back to its full strength."
Staff were also relieved to be told that the redundancy consultation with has been suspended, meaning the safety of their jobs is no longer threatened.
Jon Coles, Chief Executive of United Learning said: "We are delighted to be progressing our involvement with Dunottar School. Over the past few weeks it has become clear to us that Dunottar School has a viable future as a successful school within United Learning. We are grateful both to the governors of RGS for their willingness to open discussions with us and to Dunottar Voice, whose commitment to the future of their school is admirable. We look forward to working with them, staff and other families across the school community as we finalise how we bring what is already an academically excellent school into our group."
Over the next couple of weeks, the governors, working closely with Dunottar Voice, will undertake due diligence and contractual discussions with the prospective owner.
"The consultation process has brought a number of proposals to the table that would allow the school to remain open. Being able to give parents, pupils and staff reassurances before our original deadline of 13 March is very pleasing" said chairman of the school's Board of Governors Alan Walker.
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