A VILLAGE primary school is to be mothballed following the suspension of the headteacher.
The decision by Highland Council has dismayed villagers in the remote community of Torridon who have campaigned for the headteacher, Anne Macrae, to be reinstated.
"Anne Macrae has never had proper support from the council and now they are treating us all this way – all the other staff have been poorly treated too," said Maggie Smith, a former cook at Torridon Primary whose children were taught at the school.
Ms Macrae, head teacher at the primary school for 18 years, was suspended without warning on August 16, 2010.
Her supporters claim that no formal reason was given for the suspension and a petition of 60 names from the sparsely-populated area was raised in protest at the decision.
A formal complaint was also made to HMIE after an inspection was carried out at the school in March 2010 while Ms Macrae – the head and only teacher at the school – was off ill.
With Ms Macrae's position still unresolved, the two remaining pupils have recently been moved by the parents to schools in nearby villages.
A council spokeswoman said: "Torridon Primary School currently has no children attending.
"Two families have withdrawn their children. The council will be meeting with the community soon to discuss mothballing of the school. We are liaising with staff to redeploy them."
HMIE has refused to comment.
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