The proposal paper to commence a Statutory Consultation on the permanent closure of Fountainhall Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision has been approved at council.
Fountainhall Primary School and ELC has been temporarily closed since June 2025 due to a sustained decline in numbers and the roll falling to one pupil.
The Statutory Consultation
The Statutory Consultation on permanent closure and rezone of the catchment opened online on Monday 24 August 2026 and closes on Monday 12 October 2026.
A public meeting will also be held on Wednesday 16 September at 5.30pm in Fountainhall Village Hall. All are welcome to attend and hear more about the proposal and have your views noted.
The Statutory Consultation process is required under the Schools (Consultation)(Scotland) Act 2010 (as amended), which ensures communities are aware of proposed major changes to the school estate and includes a presumption against rural school closure unless all alternatives have been fully explored and discounted.
The recommendations follow a detailed Options Appraisal Mothball Review conducted earlier this year. It found that pupil numbers within the Fountainhall catchment have remained static, with no anticipated increase in demand for the Primary School or ELC to sustainable levels.
The review concluded that permanent closure would provide clarity for the community and support effective long-term planning for educational provision in the area. It found that the educational benefits of permanently closing the school and rezoning the catchment area to Heriot Primary School and the new ELC provision at Heriot, outweigh the educational drawbacks of closing Fountainhall Primary School.
The proposals are to permanently close Fountainhall Primary School and rezone the catchment area to Heriot Primary School which is the current temporary catchment.
The proposal also aligns with the majority view expressed by the parent and carer community during the review and supports wider rural development objectives, particularly by helping to support Heriot Primary School and its new ELC provision as a viable small rural school in the longer term.
Views will be sought on the proposal before further recommendations are made to elected members to make the final decision. No final decision on the proposal will be made by elected members until the statutory consultation is completed and all representations have been considered within a Consultation report. Scottish Ministers must also review the outcome in line with national legislation to provide approval.
Councillor Julie Pirone, Executive Member for Education, Youth Development and Lifelong Learning:
"Any proposal to permanently close a primary school and ELC is not taken lightly and is a very sad day. Our priority is to ensure clarity and stability for families in the Fountainhall community and to try and support the sustainability of Heriot Primary School as a viable small rural school in the area.
“The statutory consultation will give everyone a chance to have their say, and we are committed to listening to all views before any final decision is made."