Rural Schools to Remain Closed Amid Low Enrolment
Five small rural schools located in south-west Scotland will continue to stay closed after only two pupils sought enrolment following the summer break.
Dumfries and Galloway Council had previously implemented temporary closures at the school sites in Ae, Borgue, Hottsbridge, Kirkbean, and Tundergarth.
A report submitted to the local authority confirmed that there were just two enrolment requests for Ae Primary and none for the other four primaries.
Consequently, all five schools will remain closed for the academic year 2026/27, which begins in August.
The local authority has temporarily closed several schools in recent years. None of these have reopened, and some are progressing towards permanent closure.
A report scheduled for presentation to councillors next week detailed the minimal interest in enrolment at any of the five school locations.
This situation reflects a continuing decline in pupil numbers across the region.
In September 2021, the total enrolment across primary schools in Dumfries and Galloway was 10,092, which had decreased to 9,323 by September of the previous year.
Secondary school enrolments have also fallen and are projected to decline further.
Ae Primary has been closed since April 2023, with Tundergarth closing in August of the same year.
The remaining three schools were closed in August 2024.
In January of this year, families residing within all the catchment areas were contacted to assess interest in enrolling or transferring pupils to any of these schools.
However, only two enrolment forms were received for Primary 1 at Ae, and none for the other schools.
The report stated that the families who submitted enrolment forms have been contacted to discuss suitable alternative schooling options.
"The families which had submitted enrolment forms had been contacted to discuss a suitable alternative school."
