CONCERNS have been raised about East Lothian Council's decision to temporarily close Humbie Primary School due to a dwindling number of pupils.

Parents and carers of youngsters at Humbie Primary School have been made aware that the school is to be “mothballed”.

The decision was announced by Nicola McDowell, head of education at East Lothian Council.

The local authority official met with parents and carers at the beginning of the year to discuss the falling school roll and “the effect that was having on the educational experience” of the children.

Now it has been decided that youngsters will attend Pencaitland Primary School after the summer holidays.

READ MORE: Plans revealed to 'mothball' Humbie Primary School

In a letter to parents and carers, Ms McDowell said: “You fed back to me your feelings about the school and how valued it is in the community, as well as your concerns about its future and your aspirations for your children.

“I undertook to have a discussion with all relevant parties at East Lothian Council, using all of the most up-to-date data, in order to gather evidence that would support me to make a decision about keeping the school open next session.

“I have now completed that exercise and am writing to let you know that I have made the very difficult decision to mothball the school.

“For the period of mothballing, Pencaitland Primary School will become the temporary catchment school for those children living in the Humbie Primary School catchment.

“All children who currently get transport to Humbie Primary School will be entitled to transport to take them to Pencaitland Primary School.

“While I know that this news will not come as a surprise to you, I also know that you will feel sad that the falling school roll has resulted in this decision.”

'Greatly missed'

Currently, eight pupils attend Humbie Primary School, while 22 attend nearby Saltoun Primary School and 147 attend Pencaitland Primary School.

Sheona Skinner is acting headteacher at both Humbie and Saltoun Primary Schools until June. Her substantive post is headteacher at Longniddry Primary School.

Debby Crossan is acting headteacher at Pencaitland Primary School and her substantive post is headteacher at Humbie and Saltoun Primary Schools.

The headteacher position at Pencaitland Primary School is due to be advertised next month.

Janet Beck, who is a member of Humbie, East and West Saltoun, and Bolton Community Council, said that the school would be greatly missed.

She said: “Whilst we understand that the current dip in pupil numbers creates serious challenges, East Lothian Council has previously shown a strong commitment to support for small rural schools and Humbie community councillors are very disappointed to see the school being mothballed.

“The school has always been at the heart of the community.

“Not only does it provide an excellent, all-round education for our children, but its activities create a focus for all generations to come together, building and strengthening social networks across the whole of the local community.

“It is not clear what will happen when the temporary closure is reviewed but, for the coming year at least, the school will be greatly missed.”

Discussions with staff at Humbie Primary School, whose building dates from 1880, are “ongoing”. Currently, no “further mothballing decisions have been made” for the upcoming year at any other county school, the Courier was told.

'Obviously disappointing'

Kenny MacAskill, East Lothian’s MP, described the move to mothball Humbie Primary School as “deeply disappointing for parents and the community”.

He said: “Schools are an integral part of the life of a village.

“Losing them not only makes it awkward for youngsters and parents but for all who live there.

“Mothballing sounds benign but folk can move as a result of its absence or fail to move in, making it an ageing society. Similarly, the fabric of the building can suffer.

“I hope the council might reconsider.”

Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, said: “I appreciate council officers need to look to the longer-term best interests of our young people and, with such low pupil numbers at present, there are concerns about how sustainable this particular school is in the medium term.

“In the longer term, though, the decision about the future of Humbie Primary School will lie with councillors and I hope they consider the impact on the whole community.”

Craig Hoy, South Scotland MSP, added: “This will clearly be of concern to local residents in and around Humbie.

“Our village schools are an intrinsic part of East Lothian’s rural communities and East Lothian Council should be doing everything they can to preserve them. As a former councillor for the area, I spoke up for our rural schools and I will continue to do so.”

Martin Whitfield, fellow South Scotland MSP and a former primary school teacher, said: “I understand that the school roll at Humbie has fallen to a level where the council does not believe it is educationally viable for it to remain open.

“This was clearly a tough decision and will obviously be disappointing to some people in the village.

“However, the situation must be kept under review so it can be reconsidered if circumstances change.”