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Pupils in walkouts over closures Pupils in walkouts over closures
(about 4 hours later)
Children at an Edinburgh school have staged a walkout of classes as part of a campaign against school closures. Children at three Edinburgh schools have staged walkouts from classes in protest at school closures.
Craigentinny Primary is among the 22 schools and nurseries which Edinburgh City Council wants to shut down. Pupils at Craigentinny, Lismore and Bonnington primaries went on short "strikes" on Friday morning, education chiefs confirmed.
Pupils walked out at the start of their school day before returning to lessons. A planned strike at Castlebrae Community High did not take place. They are among the 22 schools and nurseries which Edinburgh City Council wants to shut down.
The local authority has said that falling school rolls mean many school buildings are half empty. The local authority said it could not condone any action which caused disruption to the education system.
Edinburgh City Council said it planned to close 13 primary and three secondary schools in the wake of an Audit Scotland review last month. At Lismore Primary, about 30 to 40 pupils demonstrated for half an hour at the start of the day.
Six nursery schools and four community centres are also to be shut. A walkout also took place at Craigentinny Primary in the morning when about 150 pupils protested outside the school before returning to class at 0920 BST.
A further 100 people also demonstrated at Bonnington Primary for 40 minutes during school time this morning.
This is our catchment school and it is our right to send our children to our catchment school Shirley Thomson,Concerned parentThis is our catchment school and it is our right to send our children to our catchment school Shirley Thomson,Concerned parent
Additional protests have taken place at other schools including Abbeyhill Primary and Bonnington Primary. A planned strike at Castlebrae Community High did not take place.
More are expected to be held at others in the city as the campaign to save them gathers pace. The council has said that falling school rolls mean many school buildings are half empty.
It planned to close 13 primary and three secondary schools in the wake of an Audit Scotland review last month.
Six nursery schools and four community centres are also to be shut.
Shirley Thompson sends three of her four daughters to Craigentinny Primary School.Shirley Thompson sends three of her four daughters to Craigentinny Primary School.
She said she recognised that the council needed to save money, but closing schools was not the right road to go down.She said she recognised that the council needed to save money, but closing schools was not the right road to go down.
"This is our catchment school and it is our right to send our children to our catchment school," Ms Thompson said."This is our catchment school and it is our right to send our children to our catchment school," Ms Thompson said.
'Land area' Children hold placards outside Bonnington Primary
"I have three daughters at this school and to move them now would be very disruptive."I have three daughters at this school and to move them now would be very disruptive.
"One is in P6 at the moment which would mean she would have to move for P7 which would really, really upset her and disrupt her education.""One is in P6 at the moment which would mean she would have to move for P7 which would really, really upset her and disrupt her education."
Nicola Duffy, 37, a crossing patrol woman with two boys at Craigentinny, said most of the schools' 165 pupils joined the protest.Nicola Duffy, 37, a crossing patrol woman with two boys at Craigentinny, said most of the schools' 165 pupils joined the protest.
"The schools they are proposing to send them to are full to capacity," she said."The schools they are proposing to send them to are full to capacity," she said.
"This is about the land area that can be sold from Craigentinny - there is a lot of money to be made.""This is about the land area that can be sold from Craigentinny - there is a lot of money to be made."
A city council spokeswoman said: "We recognise that parents may wish to make their voices heard but we cannot condone anything that will cause disruption to children's education."