Community Efforts to Support Heriot School
Approximately a year ago, residents of the Borders village of Heriot made an uncommon appeal for families to relocate to the area in order to increase pupil numbers at the local school. This initiative was prompted by the school’s enrollment dropping below 26 students, the threshold required to maintain two classes, a situation not seen in decades. Concerns were raised about the potential long-term viability of the school if numbers continued to decline.
Now, twelve months later, there is renewed optimism among the village’s roughly 160 households. A solution has been identified to restore the teaching staff to two by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) planning to open an early years nursery at the school.
Like many rural areas, SBC has faced challenges with declining school rolls, leading to the closure of several schools either permanently or temporarily. Fountainhall, located just a few miles from Heriot, was one of the most recent schools to close. In response, the council committed last year to exploring a more integrated approach to attract families with school-age children to the region. The introduction of the nursery, which will welcome seven children starting in August, is part of this strategy.
The village’s proximity to the Borders Railway line adds to its appeal.
Community Perspectives on the New Nursery
Natasha King, whose daughter Sophie will be among the first to attend the new nursery, expressed that the facility would simplify her daily routine.
"With two older children attending Heriot Primary School it's been somewhat inconvenient to have to take their younger sister over to Moorfoot Nursery and then be back with her in time for schools out,"
"It will be great to have all three kids going to the same place.
Having a nursery at the school will be good for the community in bringing the younger kids to the school earlier and letting them get used to the environment."
She noted that this arrangement could yield multiple benefits.
"I think it builds confidence in the younger ones and responsibility in the older ones,"
and added that it might also attract more families to the area.
"The nursery will potentially bring some families who live further afield into our community and keep our school numbers growing,"
Positive Outlook from Parent Council
Helen Marsden, representing the Heriot Primary parent council, stated that the school’s future now appears much more promising.
"This gives the opportunity for all the many younger children in the village to go to nursery here and then transition into the Heriot Primary School - rather than go to nursery elsewhere which increases the likelihood they may choose other schools,"
She also highlighted that the nursery could serve as an attraction for the village.
"Because the nursery is open to children outside of the catchment area, it also offers the opportunity for children in surrounding areas to come to it,"
Additionally, an increase in pupil numbers is anticipated following the temporary mothballing of the school in the neighboring village of Fountainhall, whose catchment area has been temporarily incorporated into Heriot’s.
"This means that families on the large family housing estate in Fountainhall are now entitled to free bus transport to the primary school in Heriot from their home, for the duration of their time at the primary school,"
Helen Marsden expressed optimism about the impact of these changes.
Council Response and Future Plans
Scottish Borders Council indicated that it has collaborated closely with families to address concerns about the transition to a single-class structure.
"It was recognised that having children who lived in the catchment area, able to access pre-school facilities would be a positive move in sustaining the school,"
They confirmed that the school will have two classes in the upcoming session: one combining nursery and Primary 1 students, and the other comprising Primary 2 through Primary 7 students.
