“Upset and distressed” Dundee families have protested over plans to close St Pius X RC Primary School.
The Courier revealed on Tuesday how Dundee City Council is recommending the closure of the Douglas school in summer 2026.
A consultation took place over the plans earlier this year.
Families protest plans to shut St Pius X Primary School
Despite concerns raised during more than 100 representations from the community, the council plans to push ahead with the closure.
This is due to the ongoing costs of maintaining the school, and a declining pupil roll.
Children would instead attend St Francis Primary in Whitfield.
After news of the proposed closure broke on Tuesday afternoon, parents, carers and children gathered outside the school to condemn the move – with youngsters chanting “save our school”.
Marion Swan, head of the parent council, said: “This is a family, a community.
“This is a brilliant school and the kids are very happy to be here.
‘Parents are very upset and distressed’
“A lot of parents are very, very upset and distressed at the moment.
“They don’t know what their step will be.
“There are a lot of children with additional needs who get the support they need here in this environment.”
Pauline Parker says she drops off her son, who is in primary two, at St Pius X on her way to work every morning.
The single parent says the move to Whitfield would mean she would have to work fewer hours.
She told The Courier: “I rely on this school for my work.
Mother fears for future amid St Pius X school protest
“If St Pius closes, then I’ll need to take fewer hours to get back and forth from Whitfield during rush-hour traffic.
“Additionally, St Pius is the only Catholic school in the area, and it’s important to me that my son is brought up the way I was.
“It’s hard enough for the kids to settle here. Moving them all up to Whitfield isn’t going to be easy for them.”
Another parent, whose son will start school in August after attending the nursery, hailed the strong relationship with staff.
She says the teachers were “extremely supportive” during a difficult period in her life.
“They’re taking all that way from us,” she said.
“Parents and children have built up relationships with teachers within the school.
“By closing the school, they’re ripping that up.
“Starting from scratch will be hard for everyone.”
‘The heart is being ripped right out of Douglas’
Following the closure of St Pius, the council says it will work with the Diocese of Dunkeld to ensure religious education provision, delivered by a church-approved teacher, will be available at nearby Claypotts Castle Primary.
However, Patricia Brough of St Pius Church, who joined the families outside the school gates, has concerns.
She said: “It’s a real blow, the heart is being ripped right out of Douglas.
“We’ve been told 26 pupils are set to start primary one in August.
“Their parents have chosen to send them here and shown faith in the school.
“If they wanted to go to Claypotts Castle Primary, just along the road, they would have gone this year.
“These pupils want to be here because it’s a small community school, with the community at heart.
“This will have a knock-on effect on us too.
“Every church is struggling, we get that, but why this end of the town?”
Dundee City Council says the closure of St Pius X RC Primary School and Nursery would save more than £677,000 in a full financial year.
The land may then be sold off, potentially for housing.
Keeping St Pius open ‘may require significant financial investment’
A statement from the council said: “Except for the council’s Edwardian and Victorian primary schools, the St Pius X RC Primary building is now one of the oldest schools, built post-1970.
“Maintaining appropriate levels of condition and suitability may require significant financial investment.
“Therefore, the committee will be asked to approve the closure of the school and nursery, and rezone the St Francis RC Primary catchment area.”
The local authority also says it would “implement robust transition planning” for children moving schools after the closure of St Pius.
Councillors will make the final decision on Monday.
Conversation