Consultation on future of secondary provision at North Walls School

Orkney Islands Council is consulting with the community in Hoy about the future of secondary school provision on the island.

All households in Hoy have been asked for feedback on options for secondary education, ranging from continuing the current arrangement of transferring pupils to KGS or Stromness Academy at the start of S1, to enhancing support for young pupils residing at Papdale Halls of Residence, to providing S1,2,3,and 4 education on the island, similar to the other junior high schools in Orkney on Sanday, Stronsay and Westray.

The number of secondary students in Hoy is expected to increase in coming years, from four new S1 pupils in 2015 to around 19 S1,2,3 and 4 pupils by 2022.

OIC head of schools, Peter Diamond, said: “Since 2011, secondary pupils have chosen to attend either KGS or Stromness Academy right from S1 – reasons given by parents and pupils for taking up this option include access to a wider range of subjects and more social networking opportunities. So in effect secondary provision at the North Walls school has been in suspension since then.

“However, there have been some concerns expressed about the long travel times for students, and exposure in winter, and the challenges for the younger pupils staying at the Hostel – so with pupil numbers expected to increase it is a good time to approach the community again for their feedback on various options.

“We’re consulting on seven options overall. We’d encourage everyone in Hoy to respond to the consultation, and to contact myself if they have any questions about any of the options being consulted on.”

The closing date for responses is June 14, and the outcome of the consultation will be reported to the OIC’s education, leisure and housing committee in September.