Calls have been made for potential options to shut down a Kinross-shrie primary school to be thrown out.
Cleish Primary School will go up for review under phase two of Perth and Kinross Council’s school estate review.
An options appraisal for the school will be announced soon, and Kinross-shire councillor Richard Watters is calling on the council to make sure closure is not one of the options given.
The SNP representative has since written to Cllr Caroline Shiers, convener of lifelong learning at the council, and Sheena Devlin, the council’s director of education, asking them to not consider closing the school.
In a letter to the two, Cllr Watters said: “Cleish Primary School is within the current tranche of schools being evaluated as part of the school estate review, with an options appraisal being due soon.
“Given the school has an occupancy level of around 80 per cent and is performing well, the only reason for its inclusion in the review is due to the standard of the old portable cabins at the school.
“Having seen first-hand the distress caused not only to parents but also to the children, when a ‘potential closure option’ threat is placed on a school, I would ask that any option for closure is removed from the options and the review concentrates on what is needed to bring the school building up to the required standard.
“This will eliminate any unnecessary distress caused during the review process.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said a study needs to be carried out on Cleish Primary School to find out how suitable the school building is for the future.
The spokesperson added it is too early at this stage to say whether or not closure of the school will be presented as one of the options.
They said: “The transformation of the school estate programme is being undertaken to ensure that our school estate is fit for purpose and best able to support the delivery of better outcomes for all of our young people.
“Cleish Primary School has been included in phase two of the transformation of the school estate programme due to the condition and suitability rating of the school, and not because of its occupancy.
“A feasibility study is being undertaken to establish what work could be carried out to improve the condition and suitability of the building, it is far too early to say what the outcome of that might be in terms of identifying what works may be required.
“Once a feasibility study is complete and options identified, these will be shared with the school community for their views.”
The study into the school building’s condition will be carried out soon, followed by a list of options for the school’s future.
Other schools included in the second phase of the review include Grandtully, Logierait and Ruthvenfield primary schools and Pitlochry High School.
Balbeggie, Coupar Angus, Glendelvine, Kettins, Meigle and Stanley primariess are expected to be considered in phase three.