First steps in bid to close Scotland’s smallest secondary school

A council has agreed to start the preliminary process which could lead to the closure of Scotland’s smallest secondary school.

The local authority in Dumfries and Galloway was told that Dalry Secondary now only had nine pupils.

The council has promised widespread consultation before the final fate of the school is decided.

A report on all the feedback will be brought back in June next year to consider starting full statutory consultation on closing the site.

The school provides education for S1 to S4 before pupils transfer to Castle Douglas High School about 16 miles (25km) away if they wish to continue.

The catchment area stretches north to include the village of Carsphairn which is a further nine miles (15km) away.

Last year parents celebrated a decision to halt the “mothballing” or temporary closure of any of the region’s secondaries.

However, the fate of Dalry has remained uncertain due to its low pupil numbers – the smallest in Scotland on the most recent national figures.

The running costs have been estimated at nearly £50,000 per pupil but parents have argued that closing the school would remove a “vital service” from a rural community.

Discussing the move to start the preliminary consultation process, Dougie Campbell – who represents the area – said he was disappointed it had reached this stage.

“I feel really sad that we are at this point of considering a statutory consultation,” he said.

“I am really worried about the impact it will have on the wider community.

“But clearly with nine children on the school roll something has got to change.”

The councillor asked what the preliminary stages of the consultation would involve.

In response, he was told that the local authority was keen to “take its time”, look at all the data available and speak to as many people as possible.

Preliminary talks have been held with the parent council and the council said it was keen to have an “open dialogue”.

Four community drop-in events are planned for early next year to gather opinion on the move and the council also intends to speak to pupils both within the school and those in the catchment area who attend other schools.

A report on all the options possible for education in the area will be brought back in June 2026.