Twenty primaries are marked for closure in Dumfries and Galloway which has opened yet another phase of public consultations as part of a pound;100 million PPP project.
Facing a 26 per cent fall in the 0-19 age group over the next 12 years, the authority wants to close a scattering of small rural schools and build eight new primaries, refurbishing the rest.
Jane Maitland, the new education convener, said: “The council has set out its proposals on the core geographical positioning of schools. It is now its duty to listen.”