ABERDEENSHIRE Council is considering a major overhaul of its education system, with up to 40 schools facing potential closure or merger by 2028 due to declining pupil numbers and under-utilisation of facilities.
The local authority, which oversees 149 primary schools, has revealed that 67 schools currently have 75 or fewer pupils, with 50 of those having less than 50 students. This means that a third of the region’s school estate is operating well below capacity.
According to current pupil roll forecasts, 40 schools across Aberdeenshire are expected to operate below 50% capacity by 2028, prompting the council to take action.
David Keating, chairman of the education and children’s services committee, acknowledged the emotional impact of these decisions on communities. “I was struck at how emotive these decisions are for our communities,” he said. “There were strong, often conflicting feelings in the room, yet we managed a good and respectful discussion.”
The council argues that these changes are necessary to create a more “effective” and sustainable education system while also improving workforce efficiency. However, the primary driver behind these potential closures and mergers appears to be financial, as the education and children’s services department is currently forecast to be £2.262 million over budget this year.
One area facing significant changes is the Turriff area, where three schools – Crudie, Fintry, and King Edward – could be merged into one. Pupil numbers at these schools have been declining and are expected to continue falling in the coming years.
All of Aberdeenshire’s secondary school catchment areas will be rezoned with work due to begin by 2027- a requirement after it was discovered that there are areas where primary and secondary catchments do not match up.
The council has begun engaging with communities in various clusters, including Turriff, Banff, and Westhill.
The outcome of this process will likely have a significant impact on Aberdeenshire’s communities and the future of education in the region.
