FURIOUS parents have hit out following a decision to axe a class at a Borders school.

Youngsters at Eddleston Primary had been learning in two separate groups – P1-P4 and P5-P7.

But due to a large number of pupils making the step to Peebles High next term, the school roll has been projected to fall to just 25.

That figure is the maximum size of any composite class, as per national guidelines.

One mother in the village has accused Scottish Borders Council (SBC) of “ripping the heart” out of the community – claiming the decision has led to a mass exodus of families pulling their children out of the school.

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Amy Bartlett said: “As a school community we understand that funding formulae and associated policy are a necessary evil in normal times however, these are not normal times.

“Compounded by 15 months of a pandemic which has caused so much anxiety and uncertainty for our children, we hoped, for the sake of being one below the guidelines, we would be allowed to remain as a two-class school with the existing and much-loved teachers providing the stability and security our children so desperately crave at this difficult time.”

Mrs Bartlett says the decision has caused “great distress” for families and has put the out of school club under threat.

She added: “It will have to close next year, making it nigh on impossible to grow the school roll without the attraction of wrap-around provision for any prospective new families.”

Mrs Bartlett also claims SBC officers refused to meet with the parents of Eddleston Primary until Tweeddale councillors got involved – an allegation the local authority has refuted.

She added: “The school is the heart of our community and SBC has yet again failed to understand the unique needs of small village communities and has ripped the heart out of Eddleston.”

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The council said this week that one current member of staff has been able to retain their post, but Mrs Bartlett says it is “too little, too late”.

She also claims the roll for next year has reduced to just 10 following the news.

She added: “My child, and others, have been really distressed by all of this significant change when they are still reeling from the year of a pandemic.”

This week, SBC said that the school roll at Eddleston Primary has been reducing for a number of years and is projected to be below 25 for at least the next five, which is the threshold for the establishment of a single-class group.

A spokesperson said: “Member involvement was passing on parental concerns to officers, at which point, working with the members and the headteacher, it was agreed to invite parents to an open forum to discuss matters. Some families have decided to submit placing requests to other schools, decisions which are individual and personal to each family circumstance.

“The council is committed to supporting the community of Eddleston to explore opportunities to ensure the roll of the school is sustainable and can grow and an action plan will be drawn up to address areas to enable this to happen – these include revisiting the possibility of Early Years provision and exploring potential housing growth.

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“Recognising the impact of the reducing roll, significant additional teacher time has been allocated to the school to ensure that a current member of staff has been able to retain their post and provide stability for the children and families of Eddleston Primary School.”

SBC says there are 12 schools across the region where the number of classes are reducing. Three will move to single classes.

The spokesperson added: “The impact of COVID restrictions and lockdown across all schools and every young person is recognised and additional supports are resourced in targeted areas where the need is greatest, however every school has the needs of pupils as its primary consideration at all times.

“There is no COVID connection to the move to a single class at Eddleston.”