Primary school with just one pupil could be closed for good

A small school in the Scottish Borders where pupil numbers fell to just one could be closed for good.

Fountainhall Primary was mothballed - shut on a temporary basis - in 2025 but now the local authority is looking to begin the process to close its doors permanently.

The school roll had steadily declined from 24 pupils in 2020/21.

A review carried out in the area found most people favoured merging the catchment area with Heriot which is about five miles (8km) away.

The school has a capacity for 50 pupils but it went from being about half full in 2020 to virtually empty about five years later.

A report said parents and carers within the catchment appeared to have preferred to enrol their children at other nearby schools.

It stressed that council officers were "very aware" that communities such as Fountainhall were often "heavily invested" in the long-term viability of their primary school.

"Their temporary closure or mothball can feel like it diminishes a sense of belonging and local pride to a small rural community which has historically had a local school," it added.

"Officers are always keen to try and mitigate any effects in that regard as much as possible."

However, the report said officers believed the proposal to close Fountainhall would offer educational benefits.

It stressed that a "full statutory consultation" was required under legislation with the primary being designated a rural school - which there is a Scotland-wide presumption against closing.

It has been provisionally agreed that consultation on permanent closure can begin on 24 August and run until 12 October.

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