A cruel blow

The fact that Scalloway has been singled out to lose its secondary department has come as a cruel blow to our community’s self-esteem and self-worth.

The proposal paper, in seeking to allay parents’ fears, states that the present AHS with 758 pupils is only at 63 per cent of capacity; and that Scalloway’s 116 pupils will bring it to 73 per cent. In other words, we are told, the existing AHS has the capacity to hold 1,160 to 1,203 pupils, depending on how the calculation is done. This will come as news to parents and staff who have campaigned so long to replace what they know to be a crumbling and congested school.

I would have thought that the very last thing the AHS and surrounding area need is an additional 116 pupils to add to the congestion for the next seven years.

Ian Fraser
Broadwinds,
Castle Street,
Scalloway.