Council Reviews Future of Fountainhall Primary School
A council meeting is underway to deliberate the future of Fountainhall Primary, a small school in the Scottish Borders that has seen its pupil numbers decline dramatically to just one student.
Fountainhall Primary was mothballed—temporarily closed—last year after the projected enrollment dropped from five pupils to a single child. Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is now considering initiating the process to close the school permanently.
If approved, this decision would allow the consultation process regarding the school's closure to commence later this year.
Background and Enrollment Decline
Despite a local campaign last summer aimed at keeping the single-teacher school operational, it was temporarily shut due to the significant decrease in pupil numbers. The school site has a capacity for 50 students and served 24 pupils in 2020; however, enrollment fell to just five by the end of the 2024-25 academic year.
Following the summer, only one pupil was registered to return last year.
Alternative Education Options and Community Response
Alternative schooling is available approximately five miles (8 km) away in the village of Heriot. Last year, residents of Heriot encouraged families to relocate to the area to help increase the local school roll.
Scottish Borders Council has expressed a commitment to minimizing the impact of Fountainhall Primary's closure on the community.
A full meeting of the local authority is being recommended to approve the initiation of consultation on permanently closing the school.
Community Reaction
Andy Anderson, chair of the Stow and Fountainhall Community Council, expressed disappointment regarding the communication of the plans.
"It was disappointing that our first sight of the plans was in the agenda item on the council website."
