Badcaul Primary School’s recommended closure sparks split opinions amongst pupils and parents
A WESTER Ross school could be set for permanent closure after a report’s recommendation to shut down the already-mothballed primary.
Badcaul Primary, around a 30-mile drive from Ullapool Primary, has been mothballed since January 2022 when the school roll fell to zero.
During a consultation period last year, members of the community were invited to comment on the proposal to close the school. A report from Education Scotland on its findings has now officially “recommended that the Highland Council approves the proposal to discontinue education provision at Badcaul Primary, re-assigning its catchment area to that of Ullapool Primary School”. The report will be considered at the council’s Education Committee on February 26.
The consultation saw significant opposition to the school’s closure from many members of the community — however, the majority of pupils interviewed were in favour of Badcaul’s closure.
24 responses from Ullapool Primary School pupils were received — 14 were in favour of Badcaul being permanently closed, six pupils thought mothballing should continue and four thought that the school should re-open.
The pupils against the school’s closure highlighted issues such as “going on the bus every day will be really hard” and that “opening Badcaul Primary would encourage more families to the area”.
However, pupils in favour of closing the school stated: “It would be good for Ullapool Primary to get more children and staff, you can make more friends. People in Badcaul have to come to Ullapool High School. They could get used to the journey and get to know the friends they will have in high school.”
Many other members of the community were also consulted, including: Ullapool Primary School parents/carers, local parent councils, MPs and MSPs for the area, Ullapool Primary School staff, local community councils and trade union representatives.
There were 16 written responses received from other stakeholders, all of which opposed the proposed closure due to the impact on the community. However the report went on to state that “only one of the responses came from a parent of primary school age children within the catchment [area]”.
One of the written responses said: “A school is the heart of any community and [this decision] will deliver a critical blow to rural depopulation in Wester Ross. Permanently closing the school would be detrimental to the area of Dundonnell. Having no school in an area does not attract young families into the area, which is so needed here.”
The prospect of an “alternative community use of the school” was suggested by another respondent, with the future possibility of the Highland Council reactivating the school, should there be a growth in the Dundonnell population. Replying to this suggestion, the council said “if the school is closed, the community could advance proposals for utilising the building,” but was clear that if the school permanently closed, it is “highly unlikely” that it would ever re-open.
The consultation is being discussed locally in the Little Lochbroom and Dundonnell area as part of a wider Save Our Rural Schools campaign which has been highlighted by the Ross-shire Journal.
One of those involved in the ongoing fight to protect rural schools, Seori Burnett said: “I feel that their conclusions are short sighted and take no account of the practicalities for young children or the bigger picture of rural population decline and the need to reverse it.”
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP, Maree Todd said: “I understand that the Highland Council’s proposal to close Badcaul Primary School will be a cause for concern for many in the local community. Depopulation is having a devastating impact on our rural communities, and the closure of schools is a stark example of this.
“In Scotland, there is a presumption against closing rural schools. Councils are required to demonstrate that they have fully considered alternatives, assessed the potential impact on the community, and reviewed how travel arrangements for pupils may be affected.
“Under Scottish Government guidelines, local authorities must also conduct thorough consultations when proposing school closures. There is still an opportunity to make representations to the Highland Council within the next three weeks. If the Education Committee recommends the closure, further representations can be made to the Scottish Government. I strongly encourage anyone who may be impacted by this proposal to engage in the consultation process.”
