Parents, educators, and rural communities across Dumfries & Galloway are rallying against Dumfries and Galloway Councils budget proposal that threatens to close multiple rural schools under financial claims.
The Dumfries & Galloway Council will vote on this proposal on Thursday, February 27th, potentially forcing the closure of schools with rolls under 10 or 25 pupils—decisions that lack transparency, factual justification, and long-term financial viability.
The Wee Schools Matter campaign, led by Rural and Small Schools Parent Council Alliance Dumfries & Galloway, has conducted an independent review of the council’s 2025/26–2027/28 budget proposal and uncovered critical flaws:
- Misleading Financial Savings – The proposal ignores key transformation costs, including transport, staff redeployment, and mothballed school maintenance. When these factors are included, the costs exceed the proposed savings.
- Disproportionate Impact on Rural Communities – The budget targets small schools for closure, while no equivalent cost reductions are proposed for urban schools or high schools.
- Lack of Consultation & Alternative Solutions – The council failed to engage meaningfully with affected communities or explore cost-effective alternatives such as shared administration, multi-use school models, or cooperative funding solutions.
- Severe Impact on Students – Longer travel times, disruption to education, and potential isolation for younger children in larger schools are being ignored in the decision-making process.
Community Action & Growing Opposition
The Wee Schools Matter movement has gained strong support from across the region:
– 15 School Parent Councils have signed an open letter calling for fair and transparent decision-making (weeschoolsmatter.org).
– A petition opposing the closures has already gathered over 1,232 signatures.
– Parents and local leaders are urging councillors to reject the misleading proposal and demand an evidence-based review of rural school sustainability.
What Needs to Happen Now
The Rural and Small Schools Parent Council Alliance is calling on:
- Dumfries & Galloway Councillors to reject the current proposal and demand a full and transparent financial review.
- Community members to contact their elected representatives before the vote on February 27th to oppose the school closures.
- The media to help expose the flaws in the council’s budget strategy and the real impact on rural children and communities.
A Wee Schools Matter Representative Stated
“This budget proposal is not just about numbers—it’s about the future of our children and communities. The council is pushing through misleading savings that will ultimately cost more in the long run. We demand an honest, transparent, and fair approach to rural education.”
They Continued “Why Are Only Rural Schools Under Threat?
The latest Dumfries & Galloway budget consultation is out, and once again, it’s rural schools that face the threat of closure. But here’s something worth noting: three Dumfries high schools, all within a 10-minute drive of each other, are running at just 57% capacity on average (Dec 2023 figures). These schools have received huge capital investments and continue to cost taxpayers millions annually—yet not one cost-saving proposal suggests looking at their sustainability.
Meanwhile, the council’s own school model consultation recently stated that any school under 60% capacity is unsustainable. So why is this rule only applied to our rural schools? Why are small, vital community schools always under threat, while urban schools operating well below capacity are left untouched?
If real savings need to be made, why not look at all schools fairly? Rural communities should not be the easy target. These closures would have far-reaching consequences—impacting education, local economies, and community life.
For more information, the full budget analysis, and ways to take action, visit: weeschoolsmatter.org
Updates to come – DGWGO have asked the council for a response, we are still awaiting on their comments.
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