Thursday September 24th 2026
Fountainhall Primary, Scottish Borders
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A public consultation event over the proposed permanent closure of a rural Scottish Borders school with only one pupil is to be held next month.
Members of Scottish Borders Council agreed in August to consult the public over the plan to permanently close Fountainhall Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and to rezone the catchment area to Heriot Primary School.
The non-denominational school, with capacity for 50 pupils, is located in the very small village of Fountainhall in the north-west of the Borders on the Gala Water.
A report to SBC recommending that the school be mothballed for one year had been approved by members in the summer of 2025.
The move came after the number of pupils attending fell from 24 in 2020/21 to just a single pupil enrolled for the new school term starting in August last year.
Ms Sheila Brown, an HM inspector from Education Scotland, will visit Stow Primary School and Early Learning Centre on Tuesday, October 20, as part of the statutory consultation on Fountainhall’s proposed closure.
Ms Brown would like to hear the views of parents, carers and members of the Stow community about the proposal and its potential educational benefits.
All perspectives are welcome, whether you support the proposal, oppose it or remain undecided.
The discussion will take place at Stow Primary School from 11.15am to noon.
If you would like to attend email the school office by Friday, October 9, at stowps@scotborders.gov.uk.
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