FROM the demise of post offices and public transport networks to the closure of local health centres, rural communities across Scotland feel increasingly isolated.

FROM the demise of post offices and public transport networks to the closure of local health centres, rural communities across Scotland feel increasingly isolated.

While the impact of rural depopulation has led partly to the withdrawal of such lifeline services, those who remain argue that, without them, remote communities cannot attract the newcomers needed to survive.

For many rural families, the local primary school is the most fundamental local service, acting not just as a place where their children are educated but also as a nursery, baby clinic, creche, youth centre, sports facility and community hall.

However, whereas 50 years ago most remote rural schools were full, today many are operating well under capacity. Figures published in 2006 show the number of pupils in Scotland's schools has fallen by 50,000 over the past decade, with demographic changes since 1996 particularly marked in the primary sector, where numbers have dropped from nearly 442,000 to 390,000.

The impact has already been felt with a raft of mergers and closures over the last five years in urban areas, such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, and rural communities, including Midlothian, the Borders, Fife, Angus, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire and Moray.

Closing a school is always an emotive issue and each of these areas saw vociferous campaigns by parents. However, what sparked yesterday's announcement by the Scottish Government of a consultation on new legislation to protect rural schools was widespread confusion about the current laws governing decisions and a frustration at the quality of the consultations undertaken by local authorities.

As rural schools campaigners from different areas began to find a national voice through the Rural Schools Network, the issue was raised at the Scottish Parliament in 2005 and demand for a so-called legislative "presumption against closure" which applies in England gathered force.

Peter Peacock, the education minister under the former Labour-led Scottish Executive, decided against such a move, arguing that existing guidance could be toughened to ensure parents were consulted.

However, that did not satisfy the Rural Schools Network and their continuing dissatisfaction, and the fact they represented the views of many rural voters, did not escape opposition politicians, including MSPs from the Conservative Party and the SNP.

It was no accident, therefore, that the SNP's manifesto for the last Holyrood elections contained a pledge to introduce just such a presumption against closure.

Yesterday, Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary, laid out the Scottish Government's plans, published in the document Safeguarding Our Rural Schools.

The document states it is not the government's intention to introduce a prohibition on rural closures, rather to achieve a situation in which a decision to close a rural school "would always be a decision of last resort" only taken when all possible alternatives and likely adverse implications have been identified.

Under the plans, a first step for local authorities would be to publish a statement outlining the educational benefits of such a move. Authorities would then have to assess four key areas: alternatives to the closure of the school, the likely community impact, impact on the subsequent use of the school buildings and the impact on pupils travelling to a school further away.

In addition, the government wants to improve the way all school closures are handled - by reforming the consultation process.

Councils would have to consult on any closure plans for at least six weeks during term time and would also have to seek the views of HM Inspectorate of Education; a move widely welcomed as bringing independent scrutiny to the key issue of whether a closure would benefit or damage the education of the children involved.

The proposals would further require councils to hold a public meeting on their proposals and to publish a report giving the results of the consultation and their response. "Local schools are an important part of ensuring vibrant local communities and local economies in villages across rural Scotland," said Ms Hyslop.

"It is important rural schools get the protection they need and this government wants their future safeguarded."

Last night, rural school campaigners welcomed the consultation, with Sandy Longmuir, a founding member of the Rural Schools Network, stating: "There have been so many cases where parents feel they have not been listened to, where they are aggrieved by the process or where they feel they have been misled. The proposals as set out here would give us the presumption against closure we have been looking for."

Murdo Fraser, education spokesman for the Scottish Tories, who brought forward a private members bill on the issue, also welcomed the publication.

"This is a recognition that the current legislative framework is not satisfactory because in the experience of many communities they feel the process is very much weighted against them," he said. However, there are genuine concerns about the proposed legislation too. Some councils feel a presumption against closure may tip the balance too much in favour of parents; creates additional bureaucracy and does not reflect the fact there may be genuine reasons for closing a rural school based on educational and economic grounds.

Isabel Hutton, education spokeswoman for Cosla, which represents local authorities, said: "We agree the process for closing schools should be robust, but this should not make it more difficult for essential decisions to be taken.

"Constantly changing educational needs will dictate some schools are not suitable for 21st century education, and will need to be replaced by more appropriate facilities. To prevent such changes could be detrimental to education of future generations."

John Stodter, director of ADES, which represents council directors of education, also has concerns. He questions why a small rural school should be treated any differently to a small school in an urban setting.

In addition, he asks whether small schools with one teacher can really provide the same educational quality and career development present in larger schools, despite evidence which suggests pupils in rural schools do better than their counterparts in urban areas.

"The big issue is that it is much more difficult to provide a really good professional development context for a single teacher in a very small school. Where that is the case it is harder to provide a whole range of educational experiences," he said.

He, like Cosla, is also mindful of the cost of keeping rural schools open. "It is an appropriate political objective to have small schools, but there is a significant cost and a presumption against closure requires significant investment," said Mr Stodter.

One area of the consultation which has so far been left open, and which will have a critical role to play in how effectively the proposed new legislation works, is the level of influence ministers have. Currently, a decision on a primary school closure is only referred to a government minister where the alternative school is five or more miles away or is 80% full or more.

The government's consultation asks for views on what decisions should be referred in future and there is likely to be a clash of interests. Councils, on the one hand, will want as little ministerial input as possible and will cite the government's previously-stated desire to support local democracy.

However, campaigners, wary of past failings, will want to see a mechanism in place that allows parents to appeal to the Scottish Government.

Closure roll call
Schools faced with recent closure proposals:
Western Isles
Cliasmol Primary School, Harris
Craigston Primary School, Barra
Sgoil nan Loch Primary School, Lewis
East Ayrshire
Sorn Primary School
Crossroads Primary School
Littlemill Primary School
St Xaviours Primary School
North Ayrshire
Corrie Primary School, Arran
South Ayrshire
Pinwherry Primary School
Highland
Roybridge Primary School
Angus
Eassie Primary School