Kinneff School - Option Appraisal

Since August 2024, Kinneff School has been mothballed. Mothballing is the temporary closure of a school which does not, in itself, lead to statutory consultation. 

In January 2025, there were no enrolments or placing requests for Kinneff School and in March 2025, Officers wrote to the residents of the Kinneff School catchment area to give the opportunity to express interest in their children enrolling at the school. No responses were received, therefore Kinneff School will remain mothballed for the session 2025/26.

 The Education and Children’s Services Committee on 22 May 2025 received an update report and authorised an option appraisal and pre-enagement stages of a statutory consultation on the future of Kinneff School. 

One of the options identified as part of the appraisal could be to close the school. If this is considered to be the only viable option for the school, then Aberdeenshire Council must undertake a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. If closure was the only viable option, there would be extensive consultation with the Kinneff community and Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee.

It is important to ensure all other alternatives have been identified and robustly considered prior to undertaking any statutory consultation on this matter. Therefore, we would like to give you an opportunity to provide any further alternatives to closure. 

Any further suggestions can also be provided in this survey, as well as emailed to LearningEstates@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or posted to Aberdeenshire Council, Learning Estates, Unit 15, Harlaw Way, Inverurie, AB51 4SG.

We would be grateful if you could complete this short survey indicating your views on the future of Kinneff School. This will allow officers to explore all possible options for the school.  

The survey will be open until 11 July 2025 and any alternatives to closure should also be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council by this date.

Map 1 - Kinneff School Catchment Area Map