Issue - meetings

Consider report by Director Education and Lifelong Learning.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Education and Lifelong Learning seeking to mothball Eddleston Primary School in accordance with the terms of the Council’s Mothballing Policy agreed at paragraph 6 above.  This recommendation was being made following a significant drop in the school roll at Eddleston Primary School (the School).  At the start of the 2021/22 school year there were 24 pupils enrolled at the School, which in accordance with Scottish Government Regulations equated to a single composite class. This resulted in a number of placement requests being submitted by parents. The school roll reduced throughout the school year and there were currently 4 pupils enrolled at the School. Council officers had been working closely with the parents at the School, who had now approached the Council asking for the School to be mothballed until there were sufficient number of children to allow the School to re-open.  The alternative school for pupils would be Newlands Primary School.  Members reluctantly agreed that the school should be mothballed but expressed the hope that this would be a temporary situation and that all avenues would be explored to allow the school to be re-opened.  In response to a request on early engagement with the community on how the school might re-open as a school/community hub, Mrs Munro confirmed that this work would start immediately and noted that a local Action Group had been set up.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     the recommendation to mothball the School in accordance with the Council’s Mothballing Policy;

(b)     the temporary re-zoning of the catchment zone to Newlands Primary School; and

(c)     the review of the mothballed status of the School on at least an annual basis.