Education and Learning

The provision of high quality education for our young people and learning opportunities for our whole community is a key under-pinning of thriving communities here in the Glenkens. We know that lack of provision leads to families leaving the area, which is completely at odds with our aims of achieving sustainable communities through averting de-population.

The Glenkens and district Community Action Plan vision is of a Glenkens that is a connected, resilient and carbon neutral place, where people will want to live, to work, to bring up their families and to grow old. As such, and in the light of the current (2024) challenges to both our High School and Primary School provision, the Community Action Plan Steering Group has created an Education and Learning sub-group to support our communities in these matters.

They leave campaigning on individual issues to the relevant community groups, but are clear that the Glenkens communities should be a meaningful part of any conversation about changes to provision. They are also keen to ensure that creative thinking is applied to the current challenges, looking for constructive, credible, long term solutions fit for modern rural living. Partnership working with the Dumfries and Galloway Council's 'Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing' department as well as the industries that operate in our area will be essential. 

For more information about the sub-group and any events planned, contact Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager, on helen@catstrand.com

Latest Reports & Resources

Education in the News

Glenkens Gazette articles

Other reporting

28 November 24 Failure to meet targets slammed as ‘shocking’ | Galloway News Inspectors have found that education standards are failing to make the grade in Dumfries and Galloway.

6 October 24 Falling school rolls see council lose £3.4m |DnG Online

22 July 24 Anne Paterson, one of the speakers at the 'Education and Learning in the Glenkens' event this July, publishes research into the unhelpful nature of urban / rural binary views. Thinking About Rural Education and Binary Logic | Australian and International Journal of Rural Education (spera.asn.au)

20 July 24 Mothballing group set up | DnG Online

11 July 24 Education and Learning event held at CatStrand.  More than 60 people hear experts talk about future of Glenkens education - Daily Record

20 June 24 Childcare crisis: Families now looking to “sell up” | Stornoway Gazette

22 May 2024 Parents hit back over rural secondary pupil costs | BBC News

20 May 2024 Council accused of 'punishing' parents with new school plan | The Herald (heraldscotland.com)

18 May 2024 New report highlights that the number of full-time jobs in wind farm operations and maintenance roles will more than triple by 2030.  Workforce and skills requirements in Scotland’s onshore wind industry | ClimateXChange

17 May 2024 Stewartry school pupils stage strike over "awful" new time table (msn.com)

16 May 20244 Dalry secondary school running costs near £50,000 per pupil | BBC News

16 May 2024 Community Action Plan Steering Group reports on Education and Learning sub-group progress and plans.

02 May 2024 Glenkens and District Trust commissions research to explore developments in rural education in Scotland and beyond, particularly in areas that are suffering depopulation and have seen a decline in school rolls. The final Report will be used to inform local groups, the Education Forum and the Council on potential options for educational arrangements in our area. Tender will be awarded late May, Report expected September 2024. News (glenkenstrust.org.uk)

22 April 2024 Dalry Secondary mothballing - a plea to councillors video published on YouTube by Dalry Schools Parent Council

29 March 2024 Campaigners hope 'landmark decision' ends school mothballing | BBC News

22 March 2024 Glenkens to Castle Douglas, school bus route video published on YouTube by Dalry Schools Parent Council

20 Feb 2024 Community Action Plan Steering Group highlights concerns about education provision as a key under-pinning of the CAP goals.

11 Feb 2024 Dalry parents fight to save school from mothballing plans | The Herald

27 March 2023 Carsphairn Community Council blasts proposal to continue mothballing school | Daily Record

10 Oct 2022 Three Dumfries and Galloway councillors call for new high school for Castle Douglas | Daily Record

20 May 2021 Carsphairn Primary closure timetable drawn up | BBC News

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