Mothballed school on the brink

Trossachs Primary could be closed for good next year, having been “mothballed”since 2016.

Stirling Council’s children and young people committee agreed last week that the status quo should remain for the 2018/19 school session.

But the members also acknowledged that if at the end of that time there was no sign of increased demand to reopen the Brig O’Turk school, consultation should begin on whether it should be permanently closed.

In 2016 councillors decided to mothball the school after the roll fell from five to zero. Locals were told the school could reopen at short notice if circumstances changed.

Asked by local Tory councillor Martin Earl how many years disused schools were usually allowed some grace, officials said it would normally be around three, giving Trossachs Primary until October 2019 before a final decision may be reached.

Councillor Earl said: “Should the recommendation be to close it, the benefits and proceeds from this should be ringfenced for use in Callander Primary School as we did when Lochearnhead Primary School was closed.”

Labour’s Councillor Margaret Brisley said:“As part of the review process we would be getting advice on the number of young children coming through.”

Asked by SNP local councillor Evelyn Tweed whether there had been any recent discussions with the community about the school, officials said there had not.

They added:“We are bringing this forward quite early to say it would be our intention to start this process next year because we are reaching three full years as was done when the decision was taken to close Lochearnhead Primary. We would be coming back to committee to seek permission to enter into full consultation.”

Prior to mothballing, the school roll at Trossachs Primary had been an average of six pupils since 2013/14.

Some of the pupils lived in the Callander Primary School catchment area but attended Trossachs by way of a placing request.

In the 2016/17 school year there was one child living in the Trossachs catchment area who was eligible to start school but the family made a placing request to Callander Primary. For the 2017/18 session the one child living in Brig o’Turk had enrolled at Callander.

In his report to the committee, chief education officer Kevin Kelman said:“The transition of children attendingTrossachs Primary School to Callander Primary School was successful. The two schools had worked very closely together over the years and, prior to mothballing, the children from Trossachs Primary already participated regularly in events at Callander Primary, particularly in citizenship and sports activities. The schools have had a shared headship since January 2008.

“For session 2018/19 there is one child living in the Trossachs Primary School catchment starting Primary 1 and they have enrolled at Callander.”

During the mothballing, children living in the Trossachs Primary catchment who live more than two miles from Callander Primary are entitled to free home-to-school transport.