‘Dysfunctional’ education chiefs slammed by Highland MSP over Strathconon school mothballing threat
THE prospect of a Ross-shire school that was given a £1.7m revamp being mothballed this summer has prompted a Highland MSP to attack the local authority’s “dysfunctional” education department.
Edward Mountain made his hard-hitting remarks after a visit to Strathconon Primary during which he praised its “fantastic top-of-the-range facilities”.
Controversially, Highland Council decided to mothball Strathconon Primary School from the summer of 2025, as the school roll was expected to drop to a single pupil in August. However it has since emerged that a new pupil is to enrol in the school in May and Highland Council will keep the situation under review.
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Mr Mountain, who has previously visited the school, today accused the local authority of “taking the word dysfunctional to a whole new level”, and asked if they had “missed their maths classes”.
The Highlands and Islands MSP lamented “a total waste of both money and facilities” over the saga.
He said that mothballing schools in remote areas will harm the longevity of rural communities.
He said: “Every time I visit this school, I am struck by the top-of-the-range facilities which would be a fantastic addition to the Highland school arsenal.
“I cannot help but question why, having already invested £1.7 million, we are mothballing the school.
“The removal of infrastructure from remote communities in this way will only accelerate rural depopulation, which is a huge problem in the Highlands.
“In the past I have called the Highland Council’s education department dysfunctional. However, for them to spend this amount of money on refurbishment, when the school’s mothballing was imminent, takes the word dysfunctional to a whole new level.”
“If the department had done its sums right, they would have known what the school roll would be.
“Maybe they missed their maths classes.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The Highland Council decided to mothball Strathconon Primary School from the summer of 2025, as the school roll was expected to drop to a single pupil in August 2025. There are currently four children in the school, three of whom are in P7. No P1 enrolments were expected for August 2025.
“Highland Council considers there are educational disadvantages to being the sole pupil in a school. Council officers met with parents and other residents on 2 October 2024, to discuss the possibility of mothballing.
“The Strathconon Estate advise that they are recruiting for new staff, and the council has recently been notified that a new pupil is to enrol in the school in May of this year. The council has advised parents that we will continue to monitor the situation, and up to May 1, 2025 will review the decision to mothball in the light of the enrolment data available at that time.”