Parents have raised fears Perth and Kinross Council chiefs have worked to engineer the closure of their local primary school to save money.
Abernyte Primary’s school roll has dwindled to just five children amidst accusations the local authority has prevented it from attracting new pupils.
Youngsters from neighbouring communities on the north side of the A90 have been prevented from joining the school and have instead been sent to the near-capacity Inchture Primary.
Abernyte is one of ten primary schools whose future is in jeopardy, with closure one of the options being considered as part of the council’s Estates Review.
Consultations have already taken place at St Ninian’s and Balhousie primaries in Perth.
Perth and Kinross Council says “no decision” has been taken on the future of the school, with a public event due to take place on October 26.
Parent council chairman Gerard McGoldrick fears its survival has long-since been pre-judged by the education department but said locals will fight against closure.
“Our school roll has been dwindling for the last few years and is now part of the council’s estates review, which we believe is essentially about closing schools to save money,” he said.
“I have been involved with the parent council for the past eight years, as chairman or secretary, and throughout that time we have been talking to the council.
“We have attempted to change the school’s catchment area as it is crazy that Knapp and Kinnaird and other small villages and hamlets cannot send pupils to the school. At every turn the response has been a negative one.
“Our opinion is that the council have intentionally let the school numbers go down without any interventions or sign of forward planning.
“They have allowed the school to fail through neglect and with a view to closing it in the future.”
Mr McGoldrick wants to see the council commit to creating a “dual catchment area” whereby parents would have the choice to send children to Abernyte or to Inchture.
He believes this would enable the roll to increase gradually and take pressure off the larger primary school.
He added: “The Scottish Government is keen to protect and promote rural schools but that policy is being completely disregarded by this council, which is committed to centralisation to save money.
“Abernyte is a vibrant community but there is a fear that if we lose the school and lose the playing fields then we will become a ghost town.
“The whole community is behind us. We want to demonstrate to the council that we will not take this lying down.”
Labour Councillor Alasdair Bailey said: “I am working with parents and the community to explore whether changing the catchment area can make this an economically viable small school that can continue to provide the excellent quality of education that parents have come to expect.”
Perth and Kinross Council said: “The consultation event for Abernyte Primary School has still to take place.
“We would encourage all parents of pupils at the school to attend the event where they can share their views directly with the representatives from the council.
“No decisions have been made and we are considering every option available to us in relation to each school as part of the process.”
