Penicuik school to close in June

The Penicuik school has just seven pupils, with no P1 intake registered since 2017.

The closure was put to a public consultation last year with 31 respondants supporting it and 64 against.

In January councillors voted to move forward with the closure, Scottish Ministers had eight weeks to decide if they would call-in the proposal.

However, it has now been confirmed this will not happen and allow the council to close the school.

A council spokesperson said: “The council will continue to support children, parents, staff and members of the community who will feel a sense of loss from the decision to shut the school.

“The focus now is on supporting existing pupils and parents in their selection of alternative schools for August 2021, making sure safe routes to those schools are in place and there is a smooth transition to their new school.

“The council will also make sure alternative work arrangements are in place for staff at Glencorse and will support staff in making those moves.

“The small number of pupils attending the school will benefit from a wider range of learning opportunities at nearby schools with more children of their own age and stage.

"Remaining pupils will be given the choice of going to Mauricewood or Roslin Primary schools as will the families of younger children living in the current catchment when they become school age.”