Dumfries and Galloway Council are conducting a budget consultation to inform the 2026/2027 annual budget.
https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation
This consultation includes 3 cost saving proposals in relation to small and rural schools:
3.02 Use schools more effectively by bringing pupils into underused modern school buildings
Make better use of our modern school buildings and provide pupils with access to the highest
quality learning environments through consultation on the re-alignment of catchment areas, resulting in the closure of surplus schools.
3.03.Consult on school closures – 20 or less pupils
Undertake statutory consultation on the future of up to 5 schools with 20 or less pupils (based on a three-year projection) in line with the Schools Consultation Scotland Act 2010.
3.04 Consult on school closures – 25 or less pupils
Undertake statutory consultation on the future of up to 13 schools with 25 or less pupils (based
on a three-year projection) in line with the Schools Consultation Scotland Act 2010.
3.05 Consult on school closures – 50 or less pupils
Undertake statutory consultation on the future of up to 36 schools with 50 or less pupils (based
on a three-year projection) in line with the Schools Consultation Scotland Act 2010.
Councillors vote on the budget for 2026- 2027 at the end of February; hence the need to act now.
We are determined to make sure that they know that communities across Dumfries and Galloway value rural and small schools and want to keep them open for the future.
We are currently in the process of trying to find out more information about where the cost savings projections included in the current consultation documents are derived.
Our experience from the consultation on the 2025/2026 budget was that the figures included were inaccurate and misleading. The proposals from the 2025/2026 budget consultation in relation to small and rural school closures were not included in the final budget.