Iain Nisbet, the Convener of the School Closure Review Panels, has today published his second annual report.
The Convener has submitted the report to the Scottish Ministers in line with the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”) (as amended). The report covers the exercise of the Convener’s functions during the year 2016, and the exercise of the functions of any School Closure Review Panel which has carried out a review under the 2010 Act in that year.
Introducing the report, Mr Nisbet said:
“This is the second year of operation for the School Closure Review Panels and it has been a quiet year, with no school closure decisions called in by Scottish Ministers for review. However, the work of the office of Convener continues, including the training of the pool of persons eligible to serve as members of a School Closure Review Panel.
The decision of the first Panel of last year was appealed. The Sheriff Court rejected that appeal, confirming both the Panel’s decision and the approach they had taken. The decision is testament to the professionalism and rigour that the members of that Panel brought to their review functions. It is useful to have such an early judicial opinion on the Panels’ role and we will continue to be guided by the Sheriff’s decision in future reviews.”
The full report can be found here.