The closure of Blackness Primary is being recommended by Falkirk Council officials, despite strong opposition shown in a consultation on the matter.
A report to members of Falkirk Council’s executive next week has the results of the consultation with parents, pupils, teachers and the wider community, which included public meetings and surveys to gauge people’s views.
All of the parents with children Blackness Primary opposed the change and some of the concerns have been captured in the report going to councillors next Thursday.
Many say the small primary is “at the heart of the community”, with pupils actively involved in things such as distributing food parcels and doing beach cleans.
Parents also believe that the tiny class size means pupils get more individual attention than they would in a larger school.
There are also worry that the small community hall – used by the school to serve lunches – will no longer be viable and will also have to close.
Parents are also anxious about their children having to travel to Grange Primary, a larger school in Bo’ness.
While the report recognises the high quality of the education at Blackness, it maintains that overall, pupils will benefit from being in a larger school and in particular will find the transition to high school much easier.
The consultation has involved Education Scotland and its response acknowledges that those who will be affected most by the closure are all opposed to it.
Education Scotland adds that, “if the proposal is approved, the council will need to ensure that children and families are well-supported in their transition to Grange Primary School”.
Parents previously stopped the council mothballing the school by showing that more pupils were expected to enrol.
But the latest report highlights that many families who live in the Blackness area do not send their children to the local school and there is no sign that this is likely to change.
Currently there are 26 primary aged pupils living in the Blackness Primary School catchment and only 10 of them are enrolled at the school.
If councillors agree on Thursday that it should close, the decision will be referred to the Scottish Government who will have a chance to call it in.
If agreed, Blackness Primary School will close permanently on June 27, the start of the summer holidays.
Grange Primary will become the new catchment school from June 30 and all non-catchment pupils will need to put in a placing request if they do not wish to move to their local school.
Falkirk Council executive meets on Thursday, February 13 at 10 am in Grangemouth Community Education Unit, Abbots Road, Grangemouth. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the council’s YouTube channel.
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