A NEW single primary school is set to be created in Prestonpans after Scottish Ministers confirmed that proposals to close Prestonpans Infant School and Prestonpans Primary School would not be ‘called in’.

The proposal to close the two schools and establish a new primary school covering nursery to P7, operating from the existing school sites, followed a public consultation.

Councillors agreed to progress the plans at a meeting of East Lothian Council on December 11.

This decision needed to be ratified by Scottish Ministers.

The new school will follow a single curriculum and a single headteacher will be appointed to oversee its management.

The school structure in the town currently has nursery to P3 children attending the infant school before transferring to the primary school for P4 to P7; however, both schools operate their own curriculums independently.

Fiona Robertson, the council’s head of education, said: “Prestonpans is the only area in East Lothian where nursery to P3 and P4-P7 are taught across two schools.

“We believe having one primary school, working under a single management structure, will benefit pupils at all levels of their learning as it does elsewhere in the county by ensuring a smoother progression through school and better coherence across the curriculum at all ages and stages.

“Education Scotland has recognised the potential educational benefits and opportunities for greater coherence in the curriculum.

“We have written to staff and parents to advise them of this decision. Our priority now is to work with the headteachers and the parent council chairs in both schools, and to support staff, parents and pupils during the move.”