Primary schools in Scotland more than half empty

Released 02/09/2010

Figures show schools in Scotland have over half of places unfilled

One in nine primary schools in Scotland is operating with at least 60 per cent of its places unfilled, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

Prof Richard Kerley, of Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, said school closures as a result of the empty places were "inescapable".

Audit Scotland figures indicate the extent of the under-occupancy in schools, which is most common in the Highlands and Islands but also evident in urban areas, such as Dundee.

Kerley told BBC Radio Scotland: "We can anticipate more proposed school closures both in cities and in rural areas - it's inescapable.

"Local authorities will be looking very hard at every school and there are quite a few that are operating at under 50% of capacity."

The Scottish Rural Schools Network is appealing to politicians in local and central government to value the quality of education in small schools and consider the potential affect on a village or island community if closure went ahead.

Eleanor Coner of the network said parents had to be kept informed from the start. "I'd like to see parents consulted properly when decisions like this have to be made.

"I don't think that education should be not suffering just as much as other areas in the budgets, we've got to think properly and there are a lot of schools that are operating well below capacity."

Education convener for Perth and Kinross Council Liz Grant said: "We have been in a difficult financial climate for the last 18 months because of the banking crisis but that's really just about to hit local authorities now.

"All local authorities across Scotland are going to have to make some very painful and some very unpopular decisions."

See more news stories like this