A council survey has confirmed overwhelming opposition to school closures across highland Perthshire.
Parents of pupils at Pitlochry High are rejecting proposals to shut the secondary school, the findings of a lengthy consultation have revealed.
Instead, they want to expand the school by introducing fifth and sixth years.
Such a move could have a damaging knock-on effect for Breadalbane Academy at nearby Aberfeldy.
The parent council there believes an expansion at Pitlochry could see a loss of between 50 and 60 students at Breadalbane which could, in turn, lead to a drop in teacher numbers and funding. It could even result in the school being unable to offer advanced Highers.
Perth and Kinross Council officers spearheading the school estate review will meet with members of the parent council to address concerns later this week.
A spokeswoman for the Breadalbane parents’ group stressed they did not support any plan to close Pitlochry High, but had great concerns about the way the estate review was carried out.
“The expansion would create two relatively small secondary schools, neither of which would be able to offer the depth and breadth of curriculum available at Breadalbane Academy,” she said.
“The council process is totally flawed, in objective and process.
“We feel that all communities have been let down by the estates review process, which has created stress and uncertainty for schools.”
She added: “We are working to challenge that process, which we believe should be stopped, and to seek assurance that this process will not be repeated in the foreseeable future.”
Pitlochry High School Parent Council has led a campaign to save the school from closure.
Chairman Andy Charlton has thanked everyone who took part.
The results of the three-month consultation have been released online, as SNP MP Pete Wishart called for the review to be scrapped.
Elsewhere in the consultation findings, there is widespread support to safeguard two under-threat primaries at Logierait and Grandtully.
Local SNP MSP John Swinney has written to council calling for both schools to be retained.
Addressing the option to close Grandtully, he pointed out the roll could rise to 70% in the next five years. “To that end, it is inconceivable that this well-run, well-attended school could be considered for closure,” he said.
Independent councillor Xander McDade has also spoken out to save all three schools.
Writing in support of Logierait, he said: “The area is booming economically and requires the council to invest and enable rural affordable housing in the area to allow younger people and families to move into the area.”
The results of the consultation will be brought before members of the council’s lifelong learning committee in the coming weeks.
