Villagers try to save Kilchrenan school for the third time
Parents are to be consulted on the future of Kilchrenan Primary School as it faces permanent closure, writes Sandy Neil.
The school has been mothballed for a year, with its head teacher having retired in February 2022 and no replacement recruited.
The school currently has no registered pupils and none are due to start there in the 2023/24 term either, with those living in its catchment area attending school either in Taynuilt, more than six miles away, or in Oban.
Argyll and Bute Council’s community services committee agreed on Thursday March 9 to conduct an options appraisal, and “gather relevant information and evidence of each option”, for it to consider in August.
Oban North and Lorn councillor Kieron Green asked: “Regarding the preliminary consultation, who is contacted and how much notice is given? There has been some concerns in other areas that not everyone might have been aware of the preliminary consultation events. I want to make sure those are widely known about.”
Graeme McMillan, the council’s transformation programme manager, replied: “The Act does not stipulate when that should take place, how that should take place. It would be for the officer to arrange that. They are not limited to only having one event or several events. It depends on resources and demand.”
Councillor Green asked what a sufficient number of pupils would be to trigger a reopening. Mr McMillan replied: “We do not have a magic number.”
Villager Iain Alexander told The Oban Times: “Kilchrenan school is yet again in the spotlight as closure looms large because of the lack of pupils and also being able to attract a teacher.
“Pupil numbers have always been an issue in rural schools for many reasons. However, closure of rural schools can have severe consequences for communities.
“I have been living here for over 50 years and seen many children thrive and have successful careers from starting their school lives in Kilchrenan and Dalavich, although the latter has been closed for some years now.
“This is now the third time that Kilchrenan school has been threatened with closure. I tried for many years to keep the school open, long before I was married, and again as chair of Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council (A&KCC).
“The community fought and was successful in keeping the school open. Our main point being that children as young as five years old would have to travel 12 to 15 miles to the nearest school in Taynuilt - a day that was too long for young children.
“Acting on behalf of A&KCC, in the next few weeks I will be hoping to get the views of all parents of school age and pre-school age children, and ask one question: if Kilchrenan school was reopened, would you enrol your child or ask for your child to be moved to Kilchrenan school?
“In my humble opinion, a school is the lifeblood in any community. It attracts young couples to come to Kilchrenan and stay in a rural setting, and maybe help the local school by providing new pupils, and also help the local community to grow and thrive.”