‘Mothballed’ PS may still re-open

Councillor tries to allay fears that Trossachs school is lost for good with review pledge

Further assurances have been given that Trossachs Primary School may only be closed temporarily.

Stirling Council’s education committee decided earlier this year to ‘mothball’ the school at Brig O’Turk after the school roll fell from five to zero.

At the time locals were told that the school could reopen if circumstances changed.

However, some concerns still appear to be lingering that the school might never again open its doors.

At a meeting of Stirling Council last Thursday, local councillor Fergus Wood said: “I understand the reasons behind the mothballing of Trossachs Primary School and I see the situation will be reviewed in 2017. I hope there’s some flexibility.

“Kinlochard Primary School [which remains closed after shutting its doors in 1998] was mothballed with seven pupils but, if it had been kept going, the following year there would have been up to 15 or 16 pupils.”

Education convener Councillor Alistair Berrill, however, said: “That will be a decision for 2017. This genuinely is ‘mothballing’. The Trossachs Primary School building will be maintained and the situation will be genuinely reviewed. The school will be reopened if there’s a demand but that will be a decision for future council.”

One of the five pupils at Trossachs PS was moving to high school and the parents of the remaining four opted to send their children to bigger schools following discussions.

Councillors have already agreed to review the decision at the beginning of the 2017-18 term.

When taking the decision earlier this year, they were told that, while there are no children from the Trossachs Primary catchment area due to start school this term, there are two set to begin their schooling in 12 months.

Each of the five children who attended the school in the 2015-16 term was in a different age group. Two live in Callander and now attend Callander Primary School. Of the other two, both of whom live in Brig O’ Turk, one now attends Callander PS and another Strathyre.”

The school will reopen if there is demand but that will be a decision for future