School closures

The closure of a rural school is never a decision that should be taken quickly or lightly. It is very unlikely to reopen and its demise can rip the heart from a small community, especially if it is the only public building. Scottish Government proposals published yesterday for the country's 1000 rural schools are designed to ensure that the voices of parents and residents are given the hearing they deserve. They would confer what amounts to a legal presumption against closure.