Councillors have agreed to press ahead with plans to close a rural Perthshire school by a single vote but parents have pledged to keep fighting.
The decision to start statutory consultation to shut Abernyte Primary in the Carse of Gowrie ended in a tie before the deciding vote was cast to push through the proposals.
At Perth and Kinross Council lifelong learning committee, education bosses said dwindling pupil numbers have made the school unsustainable.
If the school is closed the children will be bussed three and a half miles away to Inchture Primary School.
But Abernyte parent council chairman Gerard McGoldrick told the committee people from outside the catchment area want to send their children to the school and pointed out Inchture may become overcrowded due to planned development in the area.
Carse of Gowrie councillor Beth Pover put forward an amendment asking officers to hold a further review of Abernyte to find ways of boosting the pupil roll, as well as opening a nursery class at the school.
Seven councillors supported the move but another seven voted to start the statutory consultation.
The casting vote was made by committee convener Caroline Shiers, who opted to press ahead with the closure procedure.
She said: “None of us want to be here but we are where we are.
“Let’s move on to the next stage and engage with people to get their opinions.”
Committee vice convener Willie Wilson urged anyone with pre-school age children who want to send their pupils to Abernyte to take part in the consultation.
“We need to let our heads rule and not our hearts,” he added.
“Parents have voted with their feet and for a variety of reasons have gone to other schools.
“If we do this [have a further review] we will be back here again in a few months.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr McGolrick insisted parents will not give up their fight to save the school and accused the council of biased behaviour in a bid to run down the school.
“I am disappointed and unfortunately there was a clear bias in what was presented today in favour of closure,” he said.
“I think it was the wrong decision based on financial reasons but this will actually end up costing more in the long run when they have to extend Inchture.
“The parents will keep fighting to give Abernyte a fair chance and it has given me some confidence to see how close the vote was because it shows there are councillors who support the school.”
