THE number of pupils attending primary school in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands has fallen by eight 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 24 primary schools across the administrative area of Argyll and Bute between 2021/22 and 2025/26 have been detailed.
The primary school with the highest numbers in the administrative area in 2021/22 has seen its pupil numbers fall by 23 per cent over the five years, while another has seen its numbers more than double.
In total, Bute and Cowal’s primary schools have gone from 1314 pupils in 2021/22 to 1200 in the current year.
The report will go before Argyll and Bute Council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area committee at its meeting on Tuesday, March 3.
Dalintober Primary School has gone from 229 pupils in 2021/22 to 177 in 2025/26, a fall of 23 per cent.
Two primary schools with single-digit pupil numbers, Achahoish and Glenbarr Primary Schools, have seen their numbers halved across the five years.
Clachan Primary School’s pupil numbers have more than doubled from four to nine, while Bowmore Primary School’s Gaelic unit has gone from 16 pupils to 29, an increase of 81 per cent.
After Dalintober’s decrease in numbers, Lochgilphead Primary School has the biggest pupil numbers in the current academic year with a roll of 196, followed by Castlehill on 186 and then Dalintober.
Meanwhile, literacy and numeracy attainment figures remain at high levels for P7 pupils across schools in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands (MAKI).
On statistics in June 2025 for English-speaking pupils, the report said: “In listening and talking, 82 per cent of P7 pupils in the MAKI area achieved second level, this is compared with 88 per cent at authority level and 89% nationally. In listening and talking, performance in MAKI has increased by three percentage points in the last five years.
“In reading, 76 per cent of P7 pupils in the MAKI area achieved second level, this is compared with 82 per cent at authority level and 82 per cent nationally. In reading, performance in MAKI has increased by four percentage points in the last five years.
“In writing, 67 per cent of P7 pupils in the MAKI area achieved second level, this is compared with 73 per cent at authority level and 77 per cent nationally. In writing, performance in MAKI has decreased by one percentage point in the last five years.
“In numeracy, 72 per cent of P7 pupils in the MAKI area achieved second level, this is compared with 77 per cent at authority level and 79 per cent nationally. In numeracy, performance in MAKI has not changed in the last five years.”
Three Gaelic medium P7 pupils within MAKI also returned 100 per cent in all three literacy categories for at least the fifth consecutive year.
The report also lists similarly positive figures for P1 and P4 pupils, in English and Gaelic, achieving early level and first level respectively.
