MSP Cara Hilton has taken the campaign to save a Dunfermline primary school to Education Secretary Mike Russell.
Mrs Hilton has written to Mr Russell urging him to call in Fife Council’s controversial decision to close Pitcorthie Primary.
She said in her letter: “I believe that the consultation exercise was flawed and the decision to close Pitcorthie was wrong.
“I hope you will agree to this call-in request and arrange for an independent review and scrutiny of the decision and help ensure a future for this fantastic school and nursery.”
The council’s executive committee endorsed the closure on April 15, despite the education scrutiny committee calling for a review and rethink of the closure.
However, the same scrutiny committee voted in favour of the closure when it was referred back to them two weeks later.
There has been controversy over the condition of the building. Campaigners for the school highlighted the fact the council’s own experts judged the structure to be safe and not in need of urgent repair.
However, education officials said there were too many primary school places in the area and although not the main reason for closure, the building’s condition was a factor because it would need at least £3 million in repairs.
Mrs Hilton added: “The fact remains Pitcorthie Primary does not meet any of the guiding principles of the school estate review.
“It’s full to the brim, its costs are among the lowest in Fife, it represents excellent value to Fife Council taxpayers and it is situated in an area of Dunfermline where we need more school spaces, not less.
“Pitcorthie Primary is in an area of Dunfermline with some of the highest levels of deprivation in Scotland.
“As a council, Fife is committed to ending the cycle of disadvantage and as a nurture school, Pitcorthie has made a huge difference to the local community.
“Closing Pitcorthie would provide absolutely no educational benefit but would cause heartache for many and I believe it would undermine the progress made in regenerating this area of Abbeyview.”