Parents of children at one of the Fife schools earmarked for closure have accused the local authority of stifling its roll for almost a decade.
With just 10 pupils, Dunino Primary School is among the seven primary schools Fife Council proposes to axe.
But parents and others in the community claim a sustained threat of closure since at least 2004 had discouraged people from enrolling their children there, leaving its pupil numbers to dwindle.
They also say the loss of the school would change the way of life in the community it serves. Following a public meeting a response was compiled by Peter de Wolff on behalf of parents.
He said: “Fife Council has released information for years suggesting that Dunino Primary School is up for closure and proactively discouraged prospective parents from coming.
“The threat of closure of Dunino Primary School has been felt by prospective pupils and parents at least since 2004 and has been a direct cause for Dunino’s inability to increase its roll to pre-2004 levels.”
Closure of its nursery several years ago had also hampered its ability to grow, he said, but pointed out new housing was planned and being built in the area.
He said: “This community would see irrevocable change if the school was closed. It is not only about the building, but about the community that exists there, flourishing and content.
“The children see themselves as part of the Dunino community, they have always been able to walk to and attend services at Dunino Parish Church as part of the annual school calendar. This would be destroyed.
“Dunino Primary School is part of the fabric of daily life in Dunino in myriad ways that foster communication, interaction, mutual support and sharing among the people of Dunino that would disappear as a way of life after the school’s closure.”
Figures released last year stating the school cost more than £17,500 per pupil to run annually were inaccurate, he claimed, contrasting with information they had obtained that suggested the cost was in fact £11,438.
He claimed annual savings from closing the school could be as little as £8,733.
Mr de Wolff said: “The level of education offered Dunino Primary School pupils by their teacher is second to none. The school is filled with happy, eager and well-adjusted local children who are proud of their Dunino roots.
“The parents are unanimous in their endorsement of the school, its teacher and staff and the marvellous opportunity they are given there.”
Consultation on the proposed closure of Dunino, Wellwood, Crombie, Tanshall, Rathillet and New Gilston primary schools runs until November 8.
A second consultation process for closing Dunfermline’s Pitcorthie Primary School and realigning the catchment areas of Masterton, Canmore and Pitreavie primary schools runs from October 28 to December 9.
Council education officer Ken Keighren said: “The formal consultation is the time when all those with an interest can raise questions and make comments on the proposals.
“We have organised a series of public meetings and drop-in sessions in the various areas, where the community can come along and hear the reasons why we have put forward these proposals.
“They will also have the chance to ask questions and make their views known on the night. The consultation can be completed online.
“I want to take this opportunity to assure communities that no decisions have been made on any of these schools yet. The purpose of the consultation is to hear the public’s opinion and that’s what we’ll be doing over the next few weeks.”