What next for Clatt School?
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A north-east primary that shut its doors to pupils in July 2022 now faces an uncertain future as councillors are asked to examine its retention.
After serving the community for generations, Clatt School closed its doors indefinitely after being mothballed and subject to annual review after pupil numbers fell to just five.
Ex-Clatt pupils now travel by bus to school in either Kennethmont or Rhynie.
Having been out of commission for a second year, councillors at the Eduction committee which meets on Thursday are being presented with a paper looking at the next steps for the building.
In the report officers state: "As Clatt School will be mothballed for a second academic year it is therefore appropriate to consider the future of Clatt School. Officers propose that an Option Appraisal is carried out for Clatt School.
"Following the Option Appraisal, a report will be presented at Education and Children’s Services Committee in due course, detailing the outcome of the appraisal and the next steps that will be required.
"One of the options identified as part of the Option Appraisal could be to close Clatt School.
"If this is considered to be the only viable option, then Aberdeenshire Council must undertake a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. As a rural school there is a presumption against closure and Aberdeenshire Council must ensure all other alternatives have been identified and robustly considered prior to undertaking any statutory consultation on this matter."
The report adds: "Tap O’Noth Community Council contacted the Learning Estates Team to inform that they had discussed Clatt School at their most recent meeting and had received feedback from the community asking for the mothballing to be reconsidered.
"They had been advised by members of the community that there is a significant and growing interest within Clatt families who wish their children to attend Clatt School.
"The community council were asked to urge those families to contact the Learning Estates Team.
"During the period 10 May 2023 to 7 July 2023, Education and Children’s Services received one expression of interest from a parent/carer for their children to return to Clatt School.
"At the time of writing this report no further indications of interest have been received."
