Mothballed rural school to close after pupil numbers fall to zero

Councillors have agreed to the next step, which will see a mothballed Fife school officially closed.

Last January, a decision to mothball Kirkton of Largo Primary was taken after pupil numbers dwindled in recent years.

A year on, a move has now been agreed which is set to make the closure permanent.

A small rural school, with a capacity for 75 pupils, the school roll had steadily declined from 42 pupils in 2013, falling to zero in 2023.

A report to Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee explained that in the 2021/22 academic year, there were no primary one or two pupils and no primary one to four children enrolled in 2022/23.

After the class teacher secured another post, all the parents/carers made successful placement requests for the nearby Lundin Mill Primary.

“The present academic year (2025/26) is the second academic year during which the school has been mothballed formally and the third academic year that it has had no pupils,” stated the report by Head of Education Shelagh McLean.

“The maximum duration for temporary closure (mothballing) of a rural school, referred to in the Scottish Government Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 Guidance, is three years.

“Discussion has taken place with the joint Headteacher of Kirkton of Largo and Lundin Mill Primary Schools.

“The Education Service has written previously to all parents/carers living in the Kirkton of Largo Primary School catchment area, in October 2023, November 2024, December 2024, January 2025 and December 2025, giving them an update on the current position with the school.

“There have been no parent/carer requests to the Education Service to reinstate Kirkton of Largo Primary School as an operational school.”

Consultation on the closure proposal will take place between January 21 and March 10, with a public meeting and a drop-in session scheduled for February, and a final decision expected later in the year.