Southern end of Badenoch left without primary school for foreseeable future
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Laggan’s primary school is to close its doors later today due to a lack of pupils with no indication of when or even if it will ever re-open.
The loss leaves the southern part of Badenoch without a primary school.
Not so long ago Gergask was a thriving primary school at the heart of the community.
But its roll of pupils in the 20s in the mid 2010s has gradually fallen away with some locals pinning the blame on the lack of local affordable homes.
Highland Council has stressed the school has not been closed but is instead being mothballed.
It is understood that there were two pupils still on the roll and they will start attending classes at Newtonmore Primary School, nearly 10 miles away, from this Monday.
Colin Morgan, chairman of the village’s watchdog, said: “The community council received no prior advice of the temporary closure of our school from Highland Council.
“It is hopefully some comfort that parents and carers appear to have been consulted on what is a presently a difficult and hopefully temporary situation.
“The main concern is the appropriate education of the younger members of our community but equally valuable has been the availability of local jobs in Laggan.
“Such a temporary closure will mean similar uncertainty for those jobs affected. The loss of this once thriving school is a blow to the community”.
Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes said: “Whilst I stress no decisions have yet been taken by the council regarding the long-term future of Gergask Primary, naturally there is a feeling of unease when a village school closes its doors, even when this is on a temporary basis.
“I hope that discussions regarding the future of the school will not be in isolation, but will also consider other factors such as the availability of housing as well as jobs.
“I have written to the council seeking clarification on their future plans as well as next steps for the school, and I hope appropriate consultation will follow with the local community.”
A council spokesperson confirmed: “Gergask Primary School will be temporarily closed from Friday following a consultation with parents and carers.
“Recent school roll changes has led to a significantly small number of pupils enrolled at the school.
“The council will keep the future of the shool under review. This is not a permanent closure, and the local community and stakeholders will be consulted on any future change.”
There were no new-starts for this academic year. As recently as 2014/15 there were 23 pupils attending classes. There were four pupils for 2021/2022.
There is one teacher at the school and a cluster headteacher.
As recently as 2014/15 there were 23 pupils attending classes. There were four pupils for 2021/2022.
The next smallest in the south area of the Highlands for the past school year was Foyer Primary School with seven children.
Neighbouring Dalwhinnie Primary School shut for the last time just over a decade ago after its roll fell to just a couple of pupils.
It was one of the smallest schools in Scotland when it closed, ending 134 years of history.
The roll had dropped to just three pupils and their parents decided to have the children educated at Newtonmore Primary School instead so that they could socialise with more kids.
The school was initially mothballed and then closed altogether after a lengthy public consultation by the council.
One Laggan resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Strathy, recently: “This is a big blow for the village as it’s mostly holiday homes now with no new family moving in.
“It’s going to end up like Dalwhinnie.”
