Closure of a rural Perthshire primary school would “tear the heart out of the community”, according to local parents.
Councillors are to be asked next week to agree to a consultation on the possible closure of Logiealmond Primary as part of a review of schools in Perth and Kinross.
Keesje Crawford-Avis, chair of Logiealmond Parent Council, said she was “very disappointed” by the recommendation to the lifelong learning committee which meets on March 21 and maintained that there was “huge support” to retain the facility.
“The school plays a very important role in the small community,” said the mother of two.
“The school roll (currently 12) is the highest it has been for a long time and I know of 18 under-fives in the catchment area at the moment.”
She said rather than regarding the school as an underused resource the council could introduce much-needed early years care to use any spare capacity.
“It doesn’t make sense, I can’t see where they can save money by closing it”, said Mrs Crawford-Avis who lives in Little Glenshee.
She hoped no parents would be put off sending their children to Logiealmond by the consultation and said she did not want the school to be in competition with Methven and said both should be retained.
John Rebbeck, the SNP’s education spokesperson on the council, and his party colleague Councillor Grant Laing said they would be opposing the move.
At the same committee the recommendation is to approve statutory consultation on closing Blairingone Primary as there is no appetite from the Powmill community for extending the catchment area, with pupils moved to Fossoway Primary.
For Braco and Greenloaning Primary schools, the committee will be asked to approve consultation on closing mothballed Greenloaning. Upgrade and improvement works are also being planned for Braco Primary School’s facilities.
For Methven the recommendation is to improve the condition of the school with a replacement for the school’s PE facilities.
Lifelong learning convener, Councillor Caroline Shiers, said: “I very much acknowledge that some of the proposals here will be less welcome than others, however we have to look practically at how we manage and maintain our school estate into the future and how we can continue developing innovative and creative options for delivering a high standard of education.”
