TV star Dame Joanna Lumley has thrown her support behind a growing campaign to save Penpont Primary School from staffing cuts. Today, the Penpont Primary Parent Council and the Small and Rural School Alliance Dumfries & Galloway demonstrated outside the council offices in Dumfries and handed over a petition signed by over 700 supporters.
Penpont Primary School, in partnership with the Alliance, is urging Dumfries & Galloway Council to reverse its decision to reduce the school from three classrooms to two. The decision was made without consultation with the school or parents and lacks a sustainable, long-term view of rural education. Most concerningly, new pupils have been turned away by the Education Department, despite evidence of growing demand and families moving into the area.
Joanna Lumley told the Dumfries & Galloway Standard: “We should expect, even insist on, a sudden and welcome U-turn on this hasty policy, which has certainly not been thought through. I don’t believe any council would uphold such a short-sighted and miserly attack on a little school like Penpont Primary if they had thought a bit longer and harder. We shall not give in: and we can fight long and hard, because the wellbeing of our precious children is at stake.”
A spokesperson for the Rural School Alliance stated: “The Dumfries and Galloway Council is not actively managing the future of our children, it’s trying to make our children pay for the political mismanagement over decades. This needs to stop and children, in particular rural children, need to be treated with equal rights and a good education. It’s time to create a future of rural schooling all together.”
Help our village thrive – plan for growth
“We’re not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are our children, our futures, our lives,” said Samantha Gomes, parent and Chair of the Parent Council. “They tell us rural communities matter, but then they rip the soul out of them by cutting schools without even asking us. It feels like a betrayal.”
No Equality Impact Assessment has been made public, and 46% of pupils at Penpont require Additional Support for Learning, including 11 neurodivergent children. The decision to cut staff jeopardises their support and learning environment.
Davie Hall, father of 8-year-old Liam Hall-Romay, shared: “One of our earlier concerns was when Liam neared nursery and school age, as we wanted him to integrate into the local village primary school where his older brother also attends. Down’s Syndrome Scotland worked with us and the school to ensure that Liam was given the funding and inclusivity pathway to attend Penpont Primary School, and because of that, he is thriving at school and given the chance to fulfil his interests, develop friendships and lead a life that will enable his full potential. We want that to continue.”
A School at the Heart of the Community
Joanna Lumley said: “How the education department can possibly think that this appallingly short—sighted and parsimonious decision could ever benefit children is beyond belief.”
The KPT Trust, which serves Keir, Penpont, and Tynron, illustrates Penpont’s vibrancy through successful projects like a new cycle path, affordable housing initiatives, and a community-led Local Place Plan.
Penpont Primary Parent Council and the Alliance call for an immediate halt to staffing cuts and demand a full, inclusive consultation. They insist on policies that honour population growth, community cohesion, and every child’s right to education.
Penpont Primary Parent Council and the Small and Rural School Alliance Dumfries & Galloway invites Dumfries and Galloway Council into open dialogue to protect this school and all rural schools in the region.
We Demand:
- Immediate reversal of the decision to remove the third teaching post at Penpont Primary.
- A transparent and inclusive consultation process with local stakeholders.
3 Adherence to Council values and compliance with UNCRC[1], GIRFEC[2], and SHANARRI[3] principles.
Background
Penpont Primary School, near Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway
Primary School with currently three classrooms and a nursery. The council plans to close one classroom end of this school year. 46% of pupils at Penpont require Additional Support for Learning, including 11 neurodivergent children.
Rural and Small Schools Parent Council Alliance of Dumfries & Galloway
We are a group of parents deeply invested in the future of our rural primary schools. We are representing 17 schools in Dumfries and Galloway.
We value the role these schools play in educating our children and sustaining vibrant rural communities. However, we are increasingly concerned by current policies and criteria used to evaluate rural school sustainability in Dumfries & Galloway. Specifically, the proposed budget consultation suggests mothballing schools with fewer than 25 pupils. The new school model also primarily aims at the closure of rural schools. We believe this threatens the survival of small schools and undermines community stability, all without providing clear evidence of meaningful cost savings.
Small rural schools offer a unique and enriched educational experience with numerous benefits:
- Better Education: Smaller class sizes allow for tailored teaching, addressing individual needs and enabling students to thrive academically.
- Personal Connections: Strong relationships develop among students, teachers, and parents, fostering a sense of trust and collaboration.
- Family-like Learning Environment: Students experience a close-knit community that nurtures mutual respect, empathy, and belonging.
- Social Skills Development: Interacting across age groups enhances communication and teamwork skills.
- 21st-Century Learning: Rural schools integrate modern education practices while maintaining core community values, preparing students for future challenges.
These elements make rural schools essential hubs of learning and community vitality.
