Slains School in Collieston, Aberdeenshire, may be permanently shut after a catastrophic ceiling and roof collapse earlier this year forced the evacuation and ongoing closure of the building. The school, which serves just 22 pupils, is now slated for partial demolition, and its future hangs in the balance as the local council investigates the safest way forward
On the morning of March 10, before pupils arrived, part of the hall ceiling at Slains School collapsed. Staff had already identified issues with the ceiling and had cordoned off the area, ensuring no children were present at the time of the incident. The building, constructed in the 1960s, was subsequently deemed unsafe, with investigations revealing significant flaws in the original roof truss design and construction methods.
Aberdeenshire Council has stated: “A portion of the school ceiling collapsed Monday morning before the school day began. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority, which led to the decision to close the school for the remainder of the day while property staff and external structural engineers examined the damage.”
Latest developments
The council has confirmed that partial demolition of the gym hall and two adjoining classrooms will proceed in the coming months, with asbestos management and removal included in the process.
A contractor is scheduled to begin demolition work soon, and fencing has been erected around the school for safety.
Currently, all Slains pupils are being taught at Port Erroll School in Cruden Bay, six miles away, while the council determines whether the school can ever reopen.
The collapse has prompted a wider review of similar roof structures across Aberdeenshire. Inspections of other schools with comparable roof trusses have so far found “no concerns or risks,” according to Councillor David Keating, chair of the education committee. The council emphasised that the combination of factors leading to the collapse appeared unique to Slains School.
The impact of a permanent closure on local education could be significant. The school is a small, rural institution, and parents have previously voiced concerns about council decisions affecting rural schools, including proposals to merge all pupils into a single class-a move they said would harm educational outcomes.
Parent council chairwoman Fiona Bell described the council’s approach as “a one size fits all” policy, adding, “It’s discrimination against rural schools and the families that use them. To be told that we just have to accept the little ones being put in a class with those getting ready for the academy is frankly insulting.”
In Case You Missed it:
The closure would mean Collieston pupils would face longer commutes to other schools, potentially placing additional financial strain on families in the area already facing a 10% Council Tax rise. There are also concerns that the loss of a local school could deter families from settling in the area, further impacting rural vitality for a village which has already seen other amenities close recently, such as their post office.
The Scottish government has pledged to “engage directly with Aberdeenshire Council on this matter and is prepared to provide support to facilitate recovery and minimise disruption to the students’ education.”
