School mothballing halted: Victory for local campaigners!

United community action has successfully halted Council plans to mothball Dalry Secondary School without consultation.

Campaigners had regarded the imposition of mothballing as ‘closure by stealth’. Now Glenkens councillors Dougie Campbell and Andy McFarlane have successfully persuaded Dumfries & Galloway councillors to adopt their motion, halting secondary school mothballing across the region until communities are properly consulted and all options considered.

The reprieve has been achieved thanks to tireless work by many people and groups across the community and beyond, working together with a united goal.

Parents and children from Dalry School outside the council offices in Dumfries

The school's parent council, Glenkens Community Action Plan steering group, community councils and individual members of the community all supported the campaign. Friends, relatives and former pupils added their voices and widespread coverage was secured through local and national press and media outlets.

Dalry Secondary School has been saved from what would have been closure by stealth, with no community consultation or investigation into potential alternative options to 'mothballing’. Now, a full and rigorous investigation will be carried out into what can be done to make the school thrive again. The moratorium on the mothballing of secondary schools will ensure that a policy demanding a rigorous community consultation process, including investigation of alternative options and the wider impact of closure, is embedded in secondary school mothballing policy.

“A door to the future has opened for the Glenkens,” said Emily Wall, depute chair of Dalry School Parent Council. "We have gained a respite in which to gather our thoughts and momentum to step into a new future for education for our area. And we're very excited to take that next step together!”