A remote primary school in the Highlands is to shut in the new year because of a staffing crisis – placing a question mark over its long-term future, according to one councillor.
The 17 primary and two nursery pupils currently attending Strathconon Primary, in Ross-shire, will be transferred to Marybank, about five miles away, while education chiefs attempt to recruit new teachers.
The move has angered local Conservative councillor Derek Macleod who fears for the future of the school, which only recruited new teachers last year after a global campaign spearheaded by parents.
Mr Macleod said: “This is a very serious situation and places a massive question mark over the future of the school. It could signal the start of a slippery road.
“I will be seeking a meeting with the area education officer at the earliest possible opportunity to seek answers as to why replacement teachers have not been found.
“The council surely must have known these teachers were leaving, but they seem to have been caught unawares.
“We need to know what steps are being put in place to recruit new teachers. This will involve a huge amount of disruption in a small local community,” added Mr Macleod.
Local authority education chiefs have written to parents and carers to advise them that “due to ongoing staffing challenges the council has a critical situation in the New Year”.
Bill Alexander, director of care and learning, said: “As both existing teaching staff are moving to other posts, it will not be possible to have new staff in place for the new term.
“We have considered various options for dealing with this situation, and have concluded that the least problematic option is to provide education for the children at an alternative location until staffing can be put in place.
“Parents are being informed by letter that their children will, in the new year, be transported each day to Marybank Primary School. Staff will plan this week for the children to visit the Marybank classes to help ease the transition.
“This is an unfortunate situation, but colleagues will work at making the best of it.
“We are interviewing for the position of principal teacher in the first week of term, and the class teacher post is being re-advertised.”
Strathconon parent Diane Hendry said: “I am utterly disgusted and I think this is the start of a slippery slope.
“If we agree to this closure then that leaves it wide open to not getting a teacher – ever.
“It’s a drive of about 20 minutes from the school to Marybank, and some parents live another six or seven miles up the glen. It’s all single-track road.”
