The backlash has started after Midlothian Council's controversial decision to close five of the county's rural primary schools.

Following the announcement of the proposed closures at Borthwick, Temple, Howgate, Cranston and Cousland, parents and community councillors have vowed not to go without a fight.

Lynne Bruce, whose son Ewan goes to Temple, said: "As a parent and a member of the PTA I'm absolutely disgusted that Midlothian Council could even contemplate the closure of their rural schools.

"These proposals have obviously been written by people who know absolutely nothing about what is in the children's best interests."

She added: "I would like to know what policies are allowing the Department of Education to do this and where there is evidence that this will benefit the pupils."

Moorfoot Community Council chairman Tricia Murphy-Black said: "The community council strongly opposes these closures and will certainly fight them.

"We are really surprised and disappointed that no advance warning of this was given and at the total lack of community consultation in the process."

Midlothian Council Director of Education Donald MacKay has stated that many of the schools inherited by the unitary council in 1996 are in poor condition and that rural schools in general, lacked PE, ICT and office facilities. The Scottish Executive have advised that refurbishments are not done through PPP.

The condition of Temple school, for example, is perfectly satisfactory. It is a traditional building, with stone walls and a slate roof. The maintenance costs will be negligible.

Private contractors under PPP do not want the inconvenience and risk of doing refurbishments.

The Scottish Executive seem hell-bent on playing the numbers game with the Press and the electorate regarding the number of schools being built and the amount invested. What seems to be missing here is consultation with the taxpayer and electorate regarding the type of schools people want.

Priorities in education are quality of teachers, class sizes, smaller schools then facilities.

Rural schools such as Temple have a great track record in attracting good teachers and getting a contribution from the community. Each year Temple holds a school fete to raise money and a pantomime at Christmas. Last year every pupil played a part and there was over 200 people in the audience.

The Scottish Executive claims to be committed to sustainable communities and preventing rural depopulation. Closing rural schools will accelerate de-population as parents will need to move to live closer to schools.

Today there has been debate about encouraging immigrants to Scotland because of our declining population.

We have recently returned to Scotland from working in London. We contribute to the local community and economy. It seems obvious that Scotland should be creating the right conditions to attract ex-pats back.

You just need to look at Ireland which enables new houses to be built in rural locations. This helps keep prices affordable to local people; their village shops, pubs and schools are thriving.

When Borthwick families met their local councillor, Bob Jenkins on Saturday, February 28, we were all braced for an emotional debate on the closure of Midlothian's rural schools.

We certainly got the emotion. But no debate - the councillor was incapable of putting up any coherent arguments.

Councillor Jenkins had no defence against the observation that the official national policy of the Labour Party is to oppose closures. Only four a year happen in the whole of England and Wales, yet expanding Midlothian sees fit to close five in one exercise.

This marks an admission that this closure policy is not supported by the Scottish Labour Policy (indeed no party is in favour). Only the Midlothian socialists are intent on smashing the successful rural primaries in favour of a remote, intimidating and likely bullying-prone big primary where 400 children will struggle to find their identities.

Even more shocking was the admission by the councillor that he had not read any educational arguments in favour of the changes - only a paper on money and buildings.

He said, and it was put on the record in front of the astonished 70 attendees that "I dinnae suppose it will improve their education much". But he supports it nevertheless.

He is favour of closure, and will not reflect the unanimous views of the constituents in the catchment area, that the school should stay. A vote of no confidence was passed almost unanimously.

In my view his performance was a lamentable dereliction of public duty and it is clear that this Midlothian councillor does not care what the parents - or, indeed, the children - think.

I hope other public figures involved in the debate will not insult the electors by failing to brief themselves on the central issues.

This is not buildings. Or money. It is, as someone once said, education, education, education.

I am writing to express my anger and disappointment at the proposed closure of Temple Primary school (in fact any of the rural schools) as I firmly believe that this will be the end of vibrant and close communities in Midlothian.

Jack McConnell spoke on Radio Scotland of a falling population in Scotland and how we need to encourage people back to Scotland.

My partner and I (Scottish/Irish) spent 20 years in London then came back to Scotland 18 months ago because we wanted what Scotland offers - smaller communities, smaller schools and good education for our two children.

We found it in Temple and have converted an old house into a family home, immersing ourselves in the local family events, joining local committees to look after our area and making use of the local leisure facilities.

Now we need to review our options in light of the fact that Midlothian council have decided to build new PFI "superschools" with larger classes.

I believe that small children need small classes with more time given to individual personalities, so that by the time they need to go to high school they have the confidence to contend with the bigger schools. This is the belief from my own experience in a small school and from speaking to primary and nursery school teachers and assistants.

There are four new families in Temple who came here for the same reason with seven children between us waiting to start at Temple primary.

Now we have family homes, which will certainly not sell to families but rather to retiring couples because that will be the future of Temple village.

If the school closes the popular nursery playgroup will dwindle and the Temple hall, where so many village events are held, will suffer as a result.

This is a huge decision that politicians in Midlothian have made. I hope they don't look back in 10 years and see a fall in tourism and a lack of health in their smaller communities which is the reason a lot of people love coming to Scotland.

I notice that Midlothian Council send out questionnaires regularly to houses to get their views on street lighting and dog fouling and whether we want small local leisure centres or larger but further away ones. This is apparently so they can listen to our opinions and act upon it.

So why were we not asked if we like our small schools or if they can consider closing them? Instead they announce on a Monday morning in February that by summer the school will be closed, after we have registered our children and there will likely be no other places in any other popular schools of our choice.

I would like to know what the policies on schools are in the other regions of Scotland. Are we all going in the same direction or do other council have different opinions on how we teach our primary children?

I will do everything I can to save Temple school (and other schools in the same position) and we do not intend to go out without a fight.

Pupils from Temple Primary have come out tops in a quiz on the European Union.

The P6 youngsters - Cara Kyle, Sam Locke, Rhea Ramage, Jonathan Sinder and reserve Athena Oddy - proved they were no match for the other schools competing in the inaugural Midlothian Euroquiz.

The competition took the form of a European based investigation topic within school and culminated with a team from each school up against each other in a traditional quiz held at the new Dalkeith Schools Community Campus.

The children were able to learn more about the European Movement after each participating school received an information pack.

This was the first year that Midlothian has held the Euroquiz although some of the local schools have particpated in the Edinburgh event for several years.

P6 pupils from Bonnyrigg, Bryans, Cornbank, Cuiken, Danderhall, Gorebridge, Hawthornden, Langlaw, Lasswade, Loanhead, Mayfield, Pathhead, Rosewell, St David's, Sacred Heart, Stobhill and Temple Primaries took part.

The four finalists were Lasswade, Loanhead, St David's and Temple.

The winning team from Temple received a trophy to display in school, while every other team was presented with a certificate to mark their participation.

Report by : Tom Maxwell

Irene Stewart is a member of Temple Primary School Board and former chairman of the PTA. She has two children at the school: Catriona Hudson in P1 and Eilidh Hudson in P5.

She said: "Midlothian Council wants to take away choice. If you look at their reasons for closure, it shows they are only interested in the buildings and not the children."

Nicola Gooch has a daughter Olivia in P1 at Temple Primary and Georgia was due to start in August.

She said: "I think it's dreadful. The school is not just there for the gaining of knowledge, it's there for community and social development and if you take that away we will lose the nursery feeding the school.

"The nursery in turn keeps the village hall running. Closing the school would take out the heart of the community. The school has a great family ethos where everybody knows everybody else. If we wanted a big school with 400 children we would have moved to a big area. We don't think the lack of IT and PE facilities are a problem."

Dr Maureen Murray is the chairman of Howgate Primary School PTA.

She said: "We are outraged and disgusted at Midlothian Council for not informing us earlier that this closure was going to take place."

Jan Steel is the vice-chairman of Howgate Primary School PTA. She said: "There are plans to build 24 new houses in Howgate - tripling the size of the village - and now they are going to close the school. It stinks and we have been left with no choice in the matter.

Marilyn Dubickas has children in P4 and P5 at Borthwick. She said: "We are disgusted at the proposals."

Helen Brown has grandchildren at Borthwick Primary School. She said: "It's obviously going to be unsettling for the children to go from a small school to a big one. (Stobhill)."

Jim Murray, chairman of Cranston Primary School Board, has two children at the school: Euan (P7) and Catriona (P4).

He said: "I think everybody has been absolutely shocked and disgusted with the way it has been handled. Cranston was due to celebrate its bi-centennial in September and the council is taking that away from them.

"A school which has stood for 200 years can't be all bad."

Joanne Church-Olney's daughter Holly is in P4 at Cranston Primary. Her other daughter Poppy was due to start in August.

Joanne said: "I think it's absolutely disgusting. Cranston has wonderful facilities and parents and teachers have always had a good working relationship.

"Why can't the council keep the children in the schools until the new schools are built as was done in Dalkeith instead of putting them in Portakabins in the middle of a field?

"Some of these children have disabilities and moving them will be a very big issue."

John Rawlinson has two children at Cousland Primary: Tim (P7) and Matthew (P5)

He said: "We don't feel the reasons put forward for closure are applicable to this school and we will be seeking to put forward a case to resist its closure."

Julie Bull's son Alfie Marsh was due to start Cousland Primary in August.

We live about 30 seconds walk from the school. The residents of Cousland are very unhappy about its proposed closure."

Ian Clement has three children at Borthwick Primary School.

He said: "I feel the council has gone behind our backs. We found out about the closures by reading it in the Advertiser. I'm absolutely disgusted."

Bill Lumsden and his family moved to Cousland from Tain in August 1998.

A member of the school board, Bill said: "We chose to live in a rural community like Cousland because we liked the idea of our children going to a small school that was part of the community and we are aghast that this decision has been forced upon us without any consultation."

He added: "Our children Daniel (P7) and Alexandra (P3) have been in tears at the news."

Report by : Janet Bee and Tom Maxwell

There was standing room only last Thursday as more than 50 concerned parents packed into Midlothian Council's debating chamber as the local authority began the process of closing five rural schools, writes Janet Bee.

Following a review of nursery and primary buildings, the cabinet approved the closure of Howgate, Cranston, Cousland, Temple and Borthwick Primary Schools.

A public consultation exercise will now begin with Midlothian Council to hold five public meetings in each of the affected communities later this month. Council officials and councillors are expected to be in attendance at these meetings.

Council Leader Adam Montgomery thanked the parents for their attendance at the special cabinet meeting but informed them that there would not be an opportunity for them to address the meeting or ask questions.

Despite repeated attempts by one parent to ask a question, Councillor Montgomery held firm. "I am not trying to be stubborn. I am not taking a question. You are here as a member of the public. You will be given an opportunity at a future meeting. I am not having any more debate on this." he said. In addition to the public meetings, the consultation will involve letters outlining the proposals being sent to the parent of every pupil and parents of pupils not yet enrolled but who may attend the affected schools.

Letters will be sent to the appropriate school boards and the Archdiocese for Roman Catholic schools.

Outlining the proposals, education director Donald MacKay explained that the general state of the school buildings inherited by the local authority in 1996 was "very poor" with little having been done except patch them up. He added that the review had revealed that more than 65 per cent of the council's school estate pre-dated the 1970s with more than 25 per cent built prior to 1950. "Combined with poor quality buildings, built in the 1970s and 1980s, a maintenance timebomb has been inherited that has started to impact on the delivery of education and, in the absence of significant well planned investment, will be a drain on scarce resources. In essence a large number of Midlothian schools are no longer fit and are expensive to run”, he said in his report.

Mr MacKay proposed the council take a three-pronged approach – to refurbish and extend some schools using council funding, the closure of five schools, and the merger of some schools using £50 million of Public Private Partnership funding.

It is proposed that Stobhill, Gorebridge and Pathhead Primaries be replaced with new schools constructed under PPP and Woodburn, Bonnyrigg and Cuiken Primaries be refurbished using capital funds.

Bryans and Langlaw in Mayfield, and Eastfield and Ladywood in Penicuik, are to merge and be relocated to new buildings constructed under PPP. Loanhead and St Margaret's are to share a new campus under a PPP agreement.

Thornybank Nursery is to be relocated to Woodburn Primary, Cockpen Nursery relocated to Bonnyrigg Primary, Strathesk Nursery relocated to the new Eastfield/Ladywood Primary and Cuikenburn Nursery relocated to Cuiken Primary.

Councillor Peter Boyes, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, welcomed the review which he said would enable the council "to deliver better educational support now and in the future."

Seconding the proposals, Councillor Montgomery urged parents to be involved in the consultation. "There will be meetings and councillors to lobby. I am sure campaigns will take place and I welcome that," he said.

Public consultation

As part of the public consultation into the education shake up in Midlothian, a series of public meetings is to be held this month.

The first will be at Penicuik High School on Monday March 22 from 7pm to 8.30pm to cover Eastfield, Ladywood, Cuiken and Howgate Primary Schools and Cuikenburn and Strathesk Nursery Schools.

On Tuesday March 23, there will be a public meeting in the Greenhall Community Centre, Gorebridge, from 7pm to 8.30pm to cover Gorebridge, Stobhill, Borthwick and Temple Primaries.

The plans affecting Woodburn, Cousland, Pathhead and Cranston Primaries and Thornybank Nursery will be discussed at a meeting at the Dalkeith Schools Community Campus on Thursday March 25 from 7pm to 8.30pm.

St Mary's RC Primary, Bonnyrigg, will be the venue for the fourth meeting to be held on Monday March 29 from 7pm to 8.30pm to cover St Margaret's RC, Loanhead and Bonnyrigg Primary Schools and Cockpen Nursery.

The final public meeting will be in Newbattle High School on Tuesday March 30 from 7pm to 8.30pm covering Bryans and Langlaw Primary Schools.

Cousland protests

The council’s reasons for closing Cousland Primary School have been strongly refuted by village representatives, writes Tom Maxwell.

Jennifer MacGregor, a school board member and chairman of Cousland Village Hall Association, said: "I am extremely concerned that the education department is basing its decision to close a thriving rural school on information which is fundamentally flawed. The council has opted for the shortest consultation period allowed, yet the livelihood of five local communities in Midlothian hangs in the balance. We are not prepared to sit back and allow the heart of our community to be ripped out by outdated and fundamentally flawed information."

She said it was reported that the school needed double glazing despite having window and door replacements in 2001/02. She said the report also raised concerns about the playground, even though improvements were made in 2002.

She added village representatives also disputed the following reasons for closure: Lack of PE facilities – villagers pointed out that there is a gym and a playing field; lack of office/head teacher facilities; lack of ICT facilities – there are seven pupils per computer; bussing children to school – 40 per cent of pupils live within 200 metres of the school.

On February 28 First Minister Jack McConnell took the stage at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Inverness amid rapturous applause. He stood in front of a back-drop which read "A future for all" and began a stirring speech about Scotland's future.

A future 'where school class sizes were being reduced,' where the present government was 'the best government for urban and rural Scotland' and a government who believe in 'pulling communities together'.

Midlothian's plans to close rural schools appear to be in direct conflict with the First Minister's vision of Scotland's future, especially when these schools are already showing many signs of McConnell's vision.

The rural communities affected by the closures face a very uncertain future if the central focus of the village, the school, is thoughtlessly abandoned in the stampede to be seen to have plans to build 'better' schools.

For example, in Temple the Nursery's strong links with the school would put it in jeopardy and in turn the local hall's future would be undermined because of its dependence on the nursery.

In an area which has already had to accept bus services being axed this feels like complete disregard for communities and certainly does nothing to 'pull them together'.

Rural schools are a very positive environment for children to be taught in. The smaller class sizes help nurture all children and already 'inspire future generations and give them confidence,' while Labour try to help larger schools to encourage pupils to 'bring respect back into the community' rural schools have already reached this goal. Scotland has long been a country unafraid of embracing new ideas, inventions or bold new architecture while at the same time protecting its heritage. This is, after all, an important foundation to the future.

This is why I feel we should protect at all costs the rural schools which are an important part of all Scots history. While supporting plans to grow and build new schools there is no reason why the two types of school could not co-exist and share the important role that both play in 'making Scotland better'.

If the rural schools go in favour of much larger impersonal schools it will undermine communities that all Scots have been proud of in the past and that all Scots could feel proud of now.

This government has recently stated that they are keen for parents to have choices over which school they send their children to.

As farmers on the urban fringe of Edinburgh my husband and I had decided that we would like to send our children to Cranston school which would mean a drive of seven miles each way, twice a day. This decision was not made because we thought the education would be better than at our local urban school but because we felt that we would like our children to mix with other children from a rural background.

Now we have no choice but to send our children to an urban school where the chances are that they will be the only children from a farming background. I am very proud of our family's farming heritage and would love our children to be so too. I have no worries over the general standard of education that they will receive, quite the opposite, but my fear is that they will begin to lose their rural identity.

Life would be so boring if we were all the same and by forcing all children to be educated in the same manner, irrespective of the Government's promise of personal choice for parents, would be, in my opinion, a serious error of judgement from Midlothian Council.

As Midlothian's Head of Education, Donald MacKay continues his plans to build more cost saving schools further from the communities they serve, educational attainment in Midlothian remains below the national average and in some cases falls further behind.

Midlothian pupils are now, for example, among the least likely to go on to university. Compare this with East Renfrewshire, which has areas of deprivation worse than any in Midlothian but the best state schools in Scotland, thanks to a head of education respected by teachers.

Mr MacKay recently appointed a teacher to a primary school he now plans to close and left other teachers to learn of their school's planned closure from the newspaper – behaviour unlikely to inspire confidence or respect.

I am constantly impressed by the professionalism and dedication of my children's teachers. Perhaps Mr MacKay should learn from them if he is serious about improving Midlothian's schools.