THE number of pupils attending primary school in Bute and Cowal has fallen by nine per cent over five academic years, a report has revealed.
But attainment remains high among those pupils, with some positive statistics returned for numeracy and literacy achievements in session 2024/25.
Changes in pupil roll numbers at the 15 primary schools across the administrative area of Argyll and Bute between 2021/22 and 2025/26 have been detailed.
One primary school has seen its pupil numbers fall by 87 per cent over the five years, while another has had a 46 per cent increase. One school is currently mothballed, resulting in a roll of zero in 2025/26.
In total, Bute and Cowal’s primary schools have gone from 1173 pupils in 2021/22 to 1066 in the current year.
The report will go before Argyll and Bute Council’s Bute and Cowal area committee at its meeting on Tuesday, March 3.
The council’s community services committee decided to mothball Strone Primary School in August 2025, with a review to take place this August.
St Mun’s Primary School has gone from 77 pupils in 2021/22 to 10 in 2025/26, a fall of 87 per cent, while Innellan Primary School has had a 68 per cent drop, from 41 pupils to 13.
St Andrew’s Primary School has had a 46 per cent increase to its numbers over the five years, rising from 56 to 82, while Sandbank Primary has a roll of 72 compared to 56 in 2021/22 – a 29 per cent increase.
Kirn Primary School has the biggest pupil numbers in the current academic year with a roll of 293, followed by Rothesay Primary School with 218.
Meanwhile, literacy and numeracy attainment figures remain at high levels for P7 pupils across schools in Bute and Cowal.
On statistics in June 2025, the report said: “In listening and talking, 84 per cent of P7 pupils in the Bute and Cowal area achieved second level, this is compared with 88 per cent at authority level and 89 per cent nationally. In listening and talking, performance in Bute and Cowal has increased by 28 percentage points in the last five years.
“In reading, 76 per cent of P7 pupils in the Bute and Cowal area achieved second level, this is compared with 82 per cent at authority level and 82 per cent nationally. In reading, performance in Bute and Cowal has increased by 20 percentage points in the last five years.
“In writing, 71 per cent of P7 pupils in the Bute and Cowal area achieved second level, this is compared with 73 per cent at authority level and 77 per cent nationally. In writing, performance in Bute and Cowal has increased by 30 percentage points in the last five years.
“In numeracy, 73 per cent of P7 pupils in the Bute and Cowal area achieved second level, this is compared with 77 per cent at authority level and 79 per cent nationally. In numeracy, performance in Bute and Cowal has increased by 25 percentage points in the last five years.”
The report also lists similarly positive figures for P1 and P4 pupils achieving early level and first level respectively.
