Two mothballed Falkirk schools face permanent closure

Falkirk Council is to begin a consultation on closing two schools that have been mothballed for nearly two years.
Falkirk CouncilFalkirk Council
Falkirk Council

Both Limerigg and Bothkennar Primaries currently have well below the ten pupils required to keep a school open - with just four pupils in Bothkennar's catchment area and five in Limerigg's.

Members of Falkirk Council's education, children and young people committee heard that local communities would be asked for their thoughts before a final decision is made.

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Public meetings will be arranged but in the event they cannot take place due to Covid restrictions online events will be used instead.

Members heard that projections for Bothkennar show that the population is expected to remain low over the next five years.

Planning permission in principle has been granted to build 90 houses in Limerigg - although no work has yet started - but councillors heard that these places could be accommodated by Slamannan Primary, 1.5 miles away.

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David Mackay, head of education in Falkirk Council, said that the closures should not be seen as cost-cutting measures but would mean a better educational experience for pupils.

"When rolls rall to low numbers the quality of the educational experience for those children becomes much diminished from that of their peers in larger schools," he said.

Religious representative Maureen Harkins was assured that pupils would also be consulted and those who had moved from the schools when they were mothballed would be asked about their experiences.

The public consultation will take place over eight weeks, starting on Monday, February 8.

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