Future of Crossroads Primary School agreed

The school has been mothballed since January 2023 after the pupil roll fell below 15, in-line with the council’s mothballing policy. While a small number of enrolment requests have been received since then, most families have chosen to send their children to other local schools, and the roll has remained well below 15.

Following a period of informal engagement on the future of the school with parents and the wider community, the council undertook statutory consultation on closure from 23 September until 15 November 2024.

Last week, the council’s Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee considered the outcomes of the formal consultation and recommended to Full Council that Crossroads Primary School be closed permanently.

Elected Members today supported the recommendation to permanently close Crossroads Primary School and reassign its catchment area between Keith and Rothiemay primary schools. The small number of pupils who were attending Crossroad Primary School before it was mothballed are already enrolled at Rothiemay, where they will continue to receive the necessary support, including continued access to free school transport where eligible. The majority of children in the catchment were already attending Keith Primary School, and many would now be eligible for free school transport if Crossroads Primary School is closed.

Chair of the Education, Children, and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, commented: “Closing a school is never an easy decision, and we recognise how important Crossroads Primary has been to many local families. We truly appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts during the consultation. That said, our responsibility is to make the best decision for children’s education—both now and in the future. Most families supported the proposal, and we’re confident this move will bring clear educational benefits. Reassigning the catchment area to Keith and Rothiemay primary schools not only reflects where most pupils already attend but also gives families more choice and access to stronger, more sustainable school communities.”

A report by Education Scotland highlighted that the proposal offers educational benefits for children in the Crossroads catchment area. His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education noted that the closure brings clarity for families and staff at the receiving schools, where children have been learning since the school was mothballed. They also recognised that attending schools with more stable and larger pupil numbers provides both academic and social advantages, allowing children to learn alongside peers of similar ages and stages.

As required under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, Scottish Ministers will be notified of the council’s decision and provided with copies of the proposal document and consultation report.

Representation can be made to the Scottish Ministers over the next three weeks to oppose or support the school closure. Any submission should be emailed to schoolclosure@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or posted to The Scottish Government, School Infrastructure Unit, 2A (South) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ by the deadline of midnight on Wednesday 11 June 2025.

Scottish Ministers then have a further five weeks to decide if there are grounds to call-in the council’s decision for further investigation. The council cannot implement the closure of the school (either in full or in part) until Ministers have reached a final decision.

The Crossroads Primary School proposal document and consultation report are published here on the council website.