Aberdeenshire Council could merge schools to address falling pupil numbers

Aberdeenshire Council has revealed plans to potentially merge a number of schools to address falling pupil numbers across the region.

The local authority is aiming to improve its learning estate, with work being carried out to ensure all pupils are able to access the best education possible.

As a result, the council has been taking note of schools that are under capacity and figuring out how to deal with them.

At the moment, the local authority is responsible for 17 academies, 145 primary schools and four special schools.

The primary school estate has been cut by seven since 2020 due to closures and mergers, but more could soon be added to the list.

Latest figures from 2025 revealed there were 19,658 youngsters attending primary, which was down 468 on the previous year.

Meanwhile, the secondary schools had 15,946 students, an increase of 47 from the same time in 2024.

As a whole, Aberdeenshire Council’s schools have space for 28,447 primary children, which means there are 8,789 spare places across the region.

School rolls from 2025 also revealed a number of facilities were operating with worryingly low numbers.

While some were already mothballed, including Tullynessle and Slains, others were flagged as being at risk.

Officers have been focusing on specific clusters of Aberdeenshire to figure out what the best options are, with the first outcomes revealed for Laurencekirk, Kemnay and Peterhead.

First up, the local authority is considering a merger of Luthermuir School and Fettercairn School, with a final decision expected by 2028.

Latest school roll figures show Luthermuir is operating at just 19% capacity, and is forecast to be down to 18% by 2030.

Work will get underway to assess future capacity at Alehousewells School and Kemnay Primary, with a feasibility study to look at excess capacity in the town.

A similar programme will also take place at Kintore School and Midmill School to address capacity issues in Kintore.

Meanwhile, another merger could potentially take place in Peterhead.

Education bosses have revealed plans to merge Burnhaven School with Meethill School from August 2028.

This comes after previous plans to merge Meethill with Dales Park to become part of the new Peterhead Community Campus were axed.

Recent school roll figures show that Burnhaven is operating at just 13% capacity, and is forecast to be at 14% by 2030.

Rezoning of school catchments across the three areas could also be considered in a bid to address capacity issues.

Work is now expected to get underway in the Fraserburgh, Portlethen and Stonehaven clusters.

The proposed changes were considered at a meeting of the council’s education committee earlier today.

Councillor Tracey Smith queried how officers came to decide which schools would be merged, and wondered how long the process would take.

Education officer Maxine Booth explained that low pupil numbers make it possible for schools to join together, and talks take place with headteachers first.

She revealed that Luthermuir and Fettercairn “seems a very good fit” as children and staff already work together.

Ms Booth also assured her that children at Luthermuir would easily be accommodated within Fettercairn, and the merger could be complete by August 2028.

Meanwhile, councillor Ann Ross asked how much cash the council would save if the mergers were successful.

But education director Laurence Findlay was quick to state: “There are no savings targets ever placed against our learning estate.

“What we are looking to do is enhance the educational experience for our young people and to make best use of our assets, this is not part of our saving strategy in any way.”

The committee also debated the merger of King Edward School and Fintry School, needed to address declining pupil numbers at both facilities.

Aberdeenshire Council wants to bring the two schools together, but only retain one of the buildings.

Fintry School was mothballed last August, with pupils now attending King Edward, but an option to move everyone to Fintry is still on the table.

The matter was previously discussed at both the Formartine and Banff and Buchan area committees earlier this year, but opinion on what school should remain was split.

And this was the case at today’s education committee, too.

Members were shown drone footage and photos of both sites to show the condition of the buildings and to help with their decision-making process.

Committee chairman councillor David Keating voiced his support to keep King Edward as the preferred school.

He noted that children had already moved and were settled there, and believed its increasing pupil numbers were encouraging for its future.

Councillor Keating also believed space at King Edward could be used to help with increasing ASN numbers across the region.

He stressed that King Edward needed £72,000 of critical or essential maintenance work, while Fintry needed a staggering £216,000.

However, councillor Louise McAllister called for Fintry to be reinstated as the main school building.

She argued that the site had space for future expansion, car parking and a drop-off area for school buses, while the “very safe” school was located on a quieter road.

The Ellon councillor said that “everything is under one roof” at Fintry, while its toilets were recently upgraded.

She added: “I appreciate there’ll be some level of disruption and settling in required, but I feel I am looking at the long-term educational benefits of a school that’s fit for purpose for years to come.”

Following a vote, the recommendation that pupils stay at King Edward while Fintry would be permanently closed passed by 12 to three.

However, the final decision will be made at a meeting of full council next month.

Finally, the committee made a recommendation that Kinneff School be closed for good.

The facility was mothballed back in August 2024 and has been lying empty since.

A consultation process on the proposed closure was launched in October, with feedback showing a preference to merge the school with nearby Catterline, where pupils have since been relocated.

However, the school community asked for clarity on school transport and asked for the playground equipment at Kinneff to be moved.

Councillor McAllister noted the proposal had been “received well” by the community and parents.

She added: “We never like to see the loss of a school, however under these circumstances it has largely been seen as a positive move and it’s good to hear that children of Kinneff have been welcomed at Catterline.”

But the fate of the school will also be determined at the full council meeting next month.