A small school in Fife, which was half full just four years ago, looks set to be shut for good in the summer.
The region’s education and children’s services committee has given the green light to begin statutory consultation regarding the closure of Gateside Primary School and the rezoning of the catchment to Strathmiglo Primary two miles away.
The decision, which will save Fife Council nearly £120,000 a year, comes as a result of a steadily declining school roll at Gateside Primary. It was mothballed in March after the education service learned there would be no pupils attending the school at the start of this school year.
With all pupils in the area enrolled at Strathmiglo Primary, the plan is to close Gateside on July 3 2020 and seek alternative uses for the site.
Shelagh McLean, head of education and children’s services, said: “No parents of pupils living in this area have requested that Gateside Primary School be reopened for the August 2019/20 session.
“Updated birth information has shown that the births in the area have not significantly increased in the last year and there is no other anticipated increased growth in pupil population in this area.
“There have been no requests to enrol a pupil and no feedback has been received following the letter to parents advising them that the recommendation to mothball the school from March 2019 was being considered.
“The reasons for mothballing remain and there is unlikely to be any change.”
The school, which has a capacity of 47 pupils, was 82% full in 2010 and 2011, but numbers fell to 22 in 2015.
It was less than a quarter full the following year and the roll dropped to just five in 2017, before it reached 0% occupancy in 2018 and the building was mothballed.
Projections for Strathmiglo Primary, based on the 2018 census, indicate it will decline to an occupancy of 58% in 2026 but council officials say the roll will be boosted if the catchment area for Strathmiglo Primary is rezoned to include all the pupils living in the Gateside Primary catchment.
The council plans to write to parents and other statutory consultees before a 32-day consultation beginning on November 12, with a public meeting and drop-in session planned for November 27.
A report on that process will then go to Education Scotland for consideration, and the issue will go back to councillors at the end of March for final approval.
