Four-pupil school recommended to be mothballed

Image source, Richard Webb

Image caption, Pupil numbers fell sharply at Eddleston Primary after it became a single class school
At a glance
  • Pupil numbers fell sharply at Eddleston Primary after it became a single class school
  • Scottish Borders Council is being advised to mothball the site
  • Children in the area would attend Newlands Primary which is about 12 miles (19km) away

A council is being advised to mothball a rural primary school after pupil numbers fell sharply to just four.

Eddleston Primary in the Borders had more than 50 pupils five years ago but numbers have fallen since.

Last summer they dropped from 31 to 24 which saw it become a single class school and led to a large number of placement requests from parents.

That left just four children attending the site near Peebles and the council is now being advised to mothball the primary.

If the move goes ahead the catchment school for the area would become Newlands Primary which is about 12 miles (19km) away at Romanno Bridge.

A report to councillors said parents had approached the local authority to ask it to mothball the school until numbers were sufficient to allow it to reopen.

The situation would be reviewed at least annually to see if that was possible.