Worried parents are demanding that council chiefs end growing uncertainty over the future of Pitlochry High School.
The establishment is under review as part of a region-wide estates shake-up.
The first phase of the council-led project – which focuses on ageing buildings running at less than 60% capacity – has already proposed the closure of five primary schools.
Now parents at Pitlochry are calling on Perth and Kinross Council to give assurances that the High School is safe from the chop.
Dozens of concerned residents attended a packed public meeting on the school’s future.
According to a council study, the building runs at just under 60% capacity and is in a category C – or “poor” – condition.
The council has insisted it wants to “enhance, not diminish” education in highland Perthshire, but was unable to rule out closure at this stage.
Independent councillor Xander McDade said there was cross-party opposition to the a closure option. “It seems crazy to even consider putting closure on the table as an option for consultation,” he said.
“Rather than wasting everyone’s time with an option that has no political support, it would seem more sensible to rule it out formally at the start.
“Removing the closure option would reduce unnecessary stress from staff, parents, pupils and the community, allowing us to focus on further improving our excellent school instead.”
Mr McDade added: “I’m sure my colleagues on the lifelong learning exec sub-committee would be happy to hold a special meeting to agree ruling out the closure option if that is what’s required. It would be a great show of bipartisanship, which is sorely lacking in Perth and Kinross Council at the moment.”
Education secretary and local MSP John Swinney, who also attended the talks at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, said: “It is clear that there is no appetite within the local community for any proposal to close Pitlochry High School.
“The speculation regarding Pitlochry’s future is bad for staff, parents and children, and I strongly urge the Tory council to categorically guarantee the school’s future as a matter of urgency.”
Mum-of-three Tracey Stewart, from Pitlochry, said: “I’m concerned about what the effect possible closure of the High School could mean for my children when they reach secondary.
“The travel time over to Breadalbane is bad enough for 16 and 17 year olds, never mind for 10 and 11 year olds. The negative effect it would have on the town and business locally as well in terms of deterring people from moving to Pitlochry would be significant.”
The school has a roll of about 360 at nursery, primary and secondary level.
A council spokesman said: “The council is fully committed to seeing education provision in highland Perthshire enhanced, not diminished.
“The school estate review process has allowed the council to engage with communities across Perth and Kinross. Meetings with the parent councils of schools in phase two will take place to provide an update on the process and to ensure they are kept fully informed. ”
Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers, convener of the lifelong learning committee said: “I believe that what we are delivering as part of the school estate review will be local schools which really do offer children and young people the very best opportunities across Perth and Kinross.
“It is important that we continue to take a consistent approach to this important work. That means starting from a point of there being a presumption against closure of rural schools in every case; consider all possible options and ruling out at the earliest opportunity any options that are not viable.”
