A group of parents and staff are demanding a full investigation into the “forced” closure of a specialist Perthshire school.
The New School, Butterstone (TNS) aimed to help young people who found mainstream education difficult. But it closed its doors in November, after only four days’ notice, with financial difficulties cited as the main reason.
However, an internal report later revealed that the immediate closure was recommended due to failures around child safeguarding processes.
Former staff strongly deny those allegations and many parents insist their children were well cared for.
The school was reopened in early May under the leadership of the Moore House group, with 12 pupils initially attending.
And now the TNS Support Group has written to Education Secretary John Swinney MSP, demanding that the Scottish Government open an independent probe into the school’s sudden closure.
They state: “We are writing on behalf of the 24 young people and their families affected by the abrupt closure of The New School, Butterstone in November 2018, and the 51 members of staff who lost their jobs.
“Over the last six months we have taken every step we can to determine why the school was closed.
“We are requesting that, as a matter of urgency, the Scottish Government now commissions a full independent inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding the closure of the school.”
Mr Swinney said the request for an investigation will be considered.
He said: “I was pleased to approve the recent registration of Butterstone House School and I am glad that the Moore House Group have come forward to establish this much needed school.
“My priority continues to be the safety and wellbeing of all the former pupils of The New School Butterstone.
“The board of governors made a business decision to close the school, and HM Inspectors and the Care Inspectorate fulfilled their statutory function.
“The Scottish Government will consider the request for an inquiry and respond accordingly.”
A PKC spokesperson said: “It has always been the position of Perth and Kinross Council that a full independent inquiry into the circumstances that led to the closure of the school in 2018 takes place, and our stance on this has not changed.
“If the decision is made that a full inquiry will not happen, then we will seek to commission an independent review to determine what circumstances led to the sudden closure of the school.”
