Moray Council officials have mothballed Crossroads Primary School, after initially delaying the decision due to a council by-election.
Mothballing refers to a process of temporarily closing a school while keeping it in condition to reopen if necessary.
The council began an assessment of the school in May 2022, after the roll fell to 10 pupils. Following the return to school for the new August term, that number fell again to just five.
Community members reacted strongly against a previous attempt to mothball the school in 2014, but this time the closure decision won out. Students will go on to attend Rothiemay Primary School.
Alongside the decision to mothball Crossroads, the council also instituted a new policy for assessing primary school rolls. Any time a primary falls below 15 pupils, this will trigger an official assessment.
Council officials will study the impact of any possible closure and roll forecasts. It will then be up to the head of education to decide whether to open mothballing procedures.
Crossroads the latest in a string of closures
Crossroads becomes the latest of many small rural schools across the north to be mothballed or closed permanently in recent years. Earlier in 2022, Moray Council voted to close Inveravon Primary after years without students.
There is still time for members of the public to have a say in the matter before the council reviews the decision in January 2023.
Further west, Highland Council closed Roy Bridge Primary School after a similar period with zero attendance.
Closing small rural schools is always bound to have an impact on the local communities they serve and often stirs up emotional responses.
Local SNP Councillor for Keith and Cullen Theresa Coull said she was disappointed by the Crossroads decision.
“This is another blow to rural communities. The latest school report indicated that staff, parents and children are positive and proud of their school. Not having a school will make the area unattractive to young families.
“I am very concerned about the children’s well-being, having to move school during the school year.”
Moray Councillors will review Crossroads Primary School’s mothballing in April 2023. Depending on the outcome, they may take action to begin formal closure of the school.
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