COUNCIL officials will investigate options for the future of Strone Primary after unanimous agreement from elected members.
The school has been subject to a temporary closure, formerly known as mothballing, since August 2025 after pupil numbers declined.
A report recommended that it should remain temporarily closed, with officers to prepare an options appraisal to go before councillors in December.
The recommendations were unanimously agreed, with no debate, at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s community services committee on Thursday, August 27.
Executive director Douglas Hendry said in the report in advance of the meeting: “There are presently no registered pupils at Strone Primary School. Registration for August 2026 enrolment at the school closed at the end of January 2026, with no pupils registered.
“A small number of pupils registering would not in itself alter the viability of the school. All members of staff from the school were redeployed into other posts within the authority.
“Since the school’s temporary closure, there have been no lets of the school premises. There has been one approach by a community group who were proposing to use the premises as a wellness centre.
“Following a review in April 2026, the proposal was unable to be progressed any further at this time as the planned use would not allow for a quick turnaround of the premises should it require to reopen as a school within a short timescale.
“Registration for new primary one pupils enrolling in August 2027 will be open from November 6. A small number of pupils registering for Strone Primary School by November 21, for entry in August 2027, would not in itself necessarily alter the viability of the school.
“However, if a sufficient level of demand for the re-opening of the school was to be demonstrated at any point in the process that may follow, the education service would keep this under review, and present further reports to the committee on this matter as appropriate.
“It is proposed that a preliminary assessment of options regarding the future of the school be undertaken, by way of a preliminary engagement exercise and options appraisal report.
“It is proposed that the findings of the options appraisal be presented to the committee in December for members to consider and determine next steps.”
