The future of a Newton Stewart primary school is uncertain as council considers declaring it surplus
St Ninian’s Primary may be sold or transferred to a community group after councillors' decision
A Newton Stewart primary school, which was closed several months ago, could potentially be sold off, it has been revealed.
Education chiefs at Dumfries and Galloway Council have proposed that St Ninian’s Primary be declared “surplus to requirements” – which may open the door to a sale or a community group taking over the building in an asset transfer agreement.
In September last year, councillors approved shutting St Ninian’s Primary for good, primarily due to falling school rolls, and they realigned the catchment area for pupils with St Joseph’s RC Primary in Stranraer (which is also partnered with Portpatrick Primary School).
The school had already been mothballed for the previous two years due to significantly declining pupil numbers, and so the Catholic Church gave its blessing to the closure.
At next week’s education, skills, and community wellbeing committee, councillors will be asked to agree to declaring the school building and land surplus to requirements.
Louise Rae, the council’s school estate specialist, produced a report on the matter. She wrote: “The council has full title to the site of the former St Ninian’s RC School, which was disponed to the county council of Wigtown on September 24, 1948.
“Should members agree to declare St Ninian’s RC Primary School surplus to the requirements of the education, skills and community wellbeing directorate, then the
council’s disposal and acquisitions policy/procedures will be followed, with the next step being to invite the strategic asset board to declare the properties surplus to the requirements of the wider council and dispose of the asset as timeously as possible.”
The council’s policy relating to disposal of assets describes “selling or transferring all or some responsibility/liability of assets by lease, licence or granting of rights”.
St Ninian’s had difficulty maintaining suitable class sizes because the number of children aged 0-14 identifying as Roman Catholic in the region has fallen by 34 per cent between the census’ of 2011 and 2022.
There were also problems trying to fill the vacant principal teacher position.
Council education papers stated: “The headteacher position for St Joseph’s RC and St Ninian’s RC had been advertised on five occasions, with no applications received.”
Councillors agreed in December 2024 to proceed with a statutory consultation process for the school closure.
Eight members of the public responded to the consultation, seven of which were in favour of closing St Ninian’s Primary.
Council papers stated: “Only one respondent was not in favour. Their reason was due to their being a lack of choice over schools.”