Final closure beckons for the last primary school in central Sutherland.
Highland councillors yesterday agreed that mothballed Altnaharra primary will enter a period of statutory consultation from October.
The most probable outcome is its closure.
The school was mothballed in February last year after its roll fell to three pupils.
The single teacher school was built in 1963, and has been mothballed before, in 2002 when the roll fell to one pupil.
Parent power persuaded Highland Council to make the unprecedented move of reopening the school three years later for three youngsters and two new nursery children.
One of the nursery intakes was Christina Bakker, daughter of Altnaharra estate manager, Pieter Bakker.
Mr Bakker told the P&J that locals had now accepted that the end of the line had come for the school.
He said: “We’ve come to a time and a place that we think there’s no way back really, the community has accepted it’s the end of the road for the school.
“It’s maybe a sign of the times. I think it’s the last central Sutherland school still standing, so it’s no surprise really.”
If approved, the Altnaharra primary school catchment area would be divided three ways with most of the catchment area allocated to either Tongue or Farr primaries, and a small area assigned to Lairg Primary.
A public meeting will be held at Altnaharra primary school on Wednesday October 10 to discuss the council’s proposal.
The final recommendation will be considered by the Care, Learning and Housing Committee in May or June of 2019, subject to change to ensure the council has sufficient time to consider and respond to matters arising from the consultation.
