School closures hang in the balance

The future of two rural schools is on councillors' agenda this week.

 

Members of Argyll and Bute Council's Community Services Committee were due to meet today to discuss what happens next for Kilchrenan Primary School and Achaleven Primary School in Connel.

 

Council officers are recommending a draft closure proposal is now formulated for Kilchrenan ready to present to the committee's December 2023 meeting  for approval. If adopted, it will go on to trigger a formal consultation process under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

 

Earlier this year views from parents of school age and pre-school age children were being collected on behalf of Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council as part of its own survey to gauge opinion.

 

But the report from council officials for this week's meeting says closing Kilchrenan Primary School and redrawing its catchment area to the delineated catchment area of Taynuilt Primary School is considered to be "the most reasonable option" in order to address the underlying reasons for the possible proposal.

 

Officers at today's meeting, August 24, are also advising committee members to adopt a paper that sets out details of a draft closure proposal for Achaleven Primary School so that the matter can now move on to a statutory consultation exercise.

 

Argyll and Bute Council approved the mothballing of Achaleven Primary School in June 21 because of small numbers. Those children then enrolled at other schools leaving the headcount at zero. On August 25, 2022, the Community Services Committee agreed the

 

Education Service would carry out a preliminary consultation and an options appraisal.