Moray Council staff called in the police as a group youngsters stormed the local authority’s HQ in protest at plans to close their primary.
Placard-waving pupils, their parents and community council members marched through the centre of Elgin to hand over a petition signed by more than 600 backers of the Keep Findochty School Open group.
The demonstration was the latest in the ongoing backlash against proposals for a major shake-up of education in the region.
As banners were held aloft the youngsters belted out their anthem – We are the children of Findochty School – from the steps of the Moray Council annex.
Local authority staff called the police after a handful of pupils and parents strayed briefly inside the building’s entrance.
The council defended the move last night and said workers and members of the public had felt “intimidated” by the unexpected protest.
Ryan Main, chairman of Findochty and District Community Council, said the petition was villagers’ last resort after being “ignored” for 13 months.
All three Buckie councillors – Joe Mackay, Gordon McDonald and Gordon Cowie – officially accepted the petition.
Councillor McDonald said members of the small coastal community had to be commended for their proactive approach – and that the council owed them and all other affected school groups some answers.
Councillor Mackay and Councillor Cowie stressed there was still a long way to go before any final decisions would be made on the future of the region’s schools.
Last year, the local authority contracted Caledonian Economics to carry out a review of all its schools after it emerged it would take £70million to bring them up to scratch.
Under the consultants’ proposals, Findochty, Portknockie, Portessie and Cullen primaries could be combined to create a “super school”.
Councillors are due to discuss the consultants’ recommendations on Monday.
Mr Main said: “Caledonian Economics haven’t listened to any of our arguments, so we felt the only way to get our view across was to formally sign a petition.
“We are quite encouraged by the SNP motion to remove all rural schools from the review.
“Fingers crossed, commonsense will prevail on Monday, and we will have a better idea about the future of our schools.”
P7 pupil Noal Scott said: “I have really enjoyed my time at Findochty. I have got lots of younger friends in the younger classes, and I want to see the school stay open, so they can enjoy the school like I did. That’s why I’m here.”
P5 pupil Abbie Murray said: “School’s important for us to get a good job. Our school is the best way to do that.”
Mr McDonald said: “The people here need some assurances of what the future holds, and I believe across the council that should be the approach taken as a whole.”
When asked about the council’s decision to phone the police, Mr McDonald added: “It’s primary school kids. They want to make a demonstration to save their school and Moray Council are well used to having demonstrations in the past. This is one of the more friendly campaigns we have seen.
“Quite frankly, Findochty has one of the more foolproof cases for remaining open, and I commend them for their efforts.”
A council spokesman said: “Nobody knew besides the councillors that this was going to happen, and the police were not informed.
“It was quite intimidating for staff and customers inside the council offices, who were endeavouring to carry out their jobs. We invite any protests. People have the right to protest, but we need to be notified of any future protests, so we can safely accommodate them.”
A police spokesman said: “We can confirm from Elgin CCTV that, at 4.35pm, there were still a small group of adults and children outside the council building.
“They appeared to be behaving themselves. Everything seemed to be in order, and then they left on a bus.”
Mr Main added: “I don’t condone aggressive behaviour, but these are kids. They may have got a bit excited, but if our views had been listened to in the first place, none of this would have had to happen.”
One Sunday, he Save Milne’s High group staged a march and rally at Fochabers and Mosstodloch in protest at proposals to shut the secondary.