NEWS: Defunct School Gets New Lease of Life

MARK McLAUGHLIN
Evening News (Edinburgh)
June 25, 2010, Friday

A MYSTERY bidder is planning to run a new school in the building left vacant by the collapse of St Margaret's, it emerged today.

Parents fighting to save the school from closure have admitted defeat after they failed to raise enough money to take it over, but they have now turned their attention to other bids to resurrect parts of the campus for future use.

An announcement on the Save St Margaret's School Campaign website revealed there was at least one other bid which will include the school buildings as well as the nursery.

Val Devlin, who had two girls in the junior school and chaired the St Margaret's School Parents and Friends Association, said: "All that we know is that bids were taken for St Hilary House nursery, that the bids closed on Tuesday evening, and that they're currently under consideration.

"We also know that one of the bidders is interested in purchasing the junior school building with a view to setting up an entirely new junior school.

"However, the parents won't be involved in that, it will be a totally private bid, and the logistics of it all means that nothing will be in place for August."

St Margaret's looked after children's education right through their childhood and adolescent years, from three months to 18 years.

St Hilary House, which is subject to several bids, catered for three months up to five years.

However, it is the junior school building, which catered for ages five to 11, that is the subject of the new combined bid.

Ms Devlin said: "The are several bids for the nursery, which is being sold as a going concern as it's still a viable business.

"However, we know that there is one bid for the junior school building, but not for the actual school business which has now been liquidated.

"All of the teachers have been made redundant and most of the pupils have now been found other schools.

"If this gentleman's bid is accepted he will be setting up a brand new junior school for ages five to 11.

"We know that he has a chain of nurseries already and is looking to expand.

"However, we don't know the identity of this person and we don't expect to be told in advance by KPMG.

"KPMG have been as helpful as they can be under the circumstances, as they will obviously be operating under certain legal constraints regarding how much they can say.

"I've now found alternative schools for my girls and most people have been sorted, although not all of them which is obviously a cause for concern.

"However, if the old St Margaret's junior school is taken over in good time, and it offers a good service, then I would consider taking my children back there."

No-one from KPMG could be contacted for comment.