‘Mothballing’ of Edderton primary school is ‘death delayed’ for school, says community council chair in letter to councillors and MSPs

An Easter Ross community council has branded the decision to “mothball” its village primary school while attempts to boost the pupil roll were ongoing as “death delayed”, in a letter to Highland councillors and MSPs.

Community councillors in Edderton say they feel “railroaded” after learning that Highland Council had informed staff and parents that the school would close at the end of the present session.

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With its school roll falling to only two pupils, Highland Council had announced plans to “mothball” the school last year, unless they saw a “significant” increase in youngsters before the end of the present school term.

The forecast drop prompted the local authority’s plan for temporary closure, citing concerns that a low pupil count could “disadvantage” children.

In response, Edderton Community Council (ECC) launched a social media campaign designed to attract families with children who could benefit from smaller class sizes to the area.

ECC chair Gordon Allison, alongside East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Jim MacGillivray and other Highland councillors, met with Highland Council officials before Christmas to find out what could be done to stave off its imminent closure.

However, despite the enrolment period still being open and efforts continuing to add to pupil numbers, ECC members say staff and parents were informed of the decision to mothball the school at the end of the present session.

In a letter sent to local councillors and Highland MSPs, Mr Allison states: “We were aware that (mothballing) was a possibility, but we had taken measures to try and recruit new pupils to aid our ailing roll.

“Instead, even though the recruitment window for new pupils had until the end of February to run, emails were dispatched confirming - ‘that Edderton Primary will be mothballed with effect from the end of the current session on July 3, 2025.’”

Mr Allison said that both councillors and community council members had not been aware of the decision, and that the Edderton group felt “railroaded” as a result.

He added: “Despite assurances to both of us - as a community council and to our councillor - that we would be informed of the final axe wound, this was not the case.

“We found out because we were shown copies of emails distributed to other stakeholders.

“This is both a flagrant disregard of the democratic process and an indication that our consultation process was not being conducted in good faith.”

The community council chair slammed the decision as “short-sighted”, stating that the decision to mothball the school would be its “death delayed” – and that it could condemn the village to a similar fate.

“If the Cromarty Green Freeport really is going to provide 10,000 jobs then at least some of those people will need houses and schools for their children,” Mr Allison said.

“The school has served the village for generations. By mothballing it - or death delayed - the council condemns the village to death likewise.

“We were already on life support – no pub, no shop, no bank, and our post service reduced from a man working from the back of a van, to nothing.

“And yet this is a great place to live. It is beautiful but it is also kind and welcoming.

“It is a well run, humane place with a proud history and a supportive atmosphere which produces great people and which could continue to do so again.”

A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “The Council is currently checking the potential numbers at Edderton Primary School for August and will make a decision accordingly.”

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