Gargask Primary School To Close Highlighting Highland Population Decline In Remote Rural Areas

15th March 2024

On 14 March, the Highland Council took the decision to permanently close Gergask Primary School.

All school closures in Scotland must be ratified by Scottish Ministers.

The Council has notified Scottish Ministers of its decision. They have an 8-week period from the date of the local authority's decision to decide if they will intervene by issuing a call-in notice.

Within the first three weeks of that eight-week period, they will take account of any relevant representations made to them by any person on whether the decision should be called in, or not called in, for review by a School Closure Review Panel.

Anyone wishing to make a representation to the Scottish Ministers is asked to email schoolclosure@gov.scot or write to the School Infrastructure Unit, Scottish Government, 2-D (S) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, by midnight on Wednesday 3 April 2024 at the latest.

In recent years there has been a steady decline in some rural areas school numbers resulting in more closures of small schools.

Struan Primary School
On 14 September 2023, the Highland Council decided to discontinue the provision of education at Struan Primary School, reassigning its catchment area to Dunvegan Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8-week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 7 November 2023 that the Council's decision to close Struan Primary School had not been called in by Ministers.

Torridon Primary School
On 14 September 2023, the Highland Council decided to discontinue the provision of education at Torridon Primary School, reassigning its catchment area to Shieldaig Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8-week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 7 November 2023 that the Council's decision to close Torridon Primary School had not been called in by Ministers.

Review of proposal to discontinue provision of education at roy bridge primary school
On 27 October 2022, the Highland Council decided to discontinue the provision of education at Roy Bridge Primary School, reassigning its catchment area to Spean Bridge Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8-week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 21 December 2022 that the Council's decision to close Roy Bridge Primary School had not been called in by Ministers.

Uig Primary School
On 9 September 2021, the Highland Council decided to discontinue the provision of education at Uig Primary School, reassigning its catchment area to Kilmuir Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8-week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 3 November 2021 that the Council's decision to close Uig Primary School had not been called in by Ministers.

Stoer Primary School
On 12 March 2020, the Highland Council decided to discontinue the provision of education at Stoer Primary School, reassigning its catchment area to Lochinver Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8-week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 6 May 2020 that the Council's decision to close Stoer Primary School had not been called in by Ministers.

Achfary Primary School
On 15 December 2016, the Council agreed the proposal to discontinue the provision of education at Achfary Primary School, re-assigning the school's catchment area to Scourie Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8 week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 25 January 2017 that the Council could implement its decision to close Achfary Primary School.

Black Isle Education Centre
On 9 March 2017, the Council agreed the proposal to discontinue the provision of education at the Black Isle Education Centre.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8 week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 3 May 2017 that the Council could implement its decision to close the Black Isle Education Centre.

Dalwhinnie Primary School
On 8 September 2016, the council agreed the proposal to discontinue the provision of education at Dalwhinnie Primary School, re-assigning the school's catchment area to Newtonmore Primary School.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8 week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 2 November 2016 that the Council's decision to close Dalwhinnie Primary School has not been called in by Ministers.

Kinbrace Primary School
On 9 March 2017, the Council agreed the proposal to discontinue the provision of education at Kinbrace Primary School, dividing the school's catchment area between those of Helmsdale and Melvich Primary Schools.
Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8 week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 26 April 2017 that the Council could implement its decision to close Kinbrace Primary School.

Altnaharra Primary School
On 27 June 2019, the Council agreed the proposal to discontinue the provision of education at Altnaharra Primary School, dividing the school's catchment area between those of Tongue, Farr and Lairg Primary Schools.

Scottish Ministers were notified of the decision and provided with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They had an 8 week period from the date of our decision to decide if they would intervene by issuing a call-in notice. The Highland Council received confirmation on 21 August 2019 that the Council could implement its decision to close Altnaharra Primary School.

Current school consultations
Proposal to discontinue provision of education at Duror Primary School
We are seeking the views of local communities on the future of Duror Primary School.

We are proposing to discontinue the provision of education at Duror Primary, and to reallocate its catchment area to that of Ballachulish Primary School.

The views of parents, school pupils, the local community and others will be sought over a period extending from 4 March 2024 to 3 May 2024. A public meeting will be held on 16 April 2024 at 6:30pm at Duror Primary School.

Gergask Primary School
We have published our Final Consultation Report into our proposal to discontinue the provision of education at Gergask Primary School.

The original consultation on the proposal ran from 18 September 2023 to 10 November 2023.

The Final Consultation Report was approved by the Council's Education Committee on 14 February 2024, and by Highland Council on 14 March.

We have notified Scottish Ministers of our decision and provided them with a copy of the Proposal Paper and Consultation Report. They have an 8-week period from the date of our decision (14 March 2024) to decide if they will intervene by issuing a call-in notice. Within the first 3 weeks of that 8-week period, they will take account of any relevant representations made to them by any person on whether the decision should be called in, or not called in, for review by a School Closure Review Panel. All representations should be sent to the email address or the postal address below and the deadline for this is Wednesday 3 April 2024.

Anyone wishing to make a representation to the Scottish Ministers is asked to email schoolclosure@gov.scot or write to the School Infrastructure Unit, Scottish Government, 2-D (S) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, by midnight on Wednesday 3 April 2024 at the latest.

Report on Gergask