A place to belong
Protect the role a local school can play in friendships, family life and a connected rural community.
Help save Banchory-Devenick School
Stand with our community.
Support our campaign to retain the school. Tell us your connection and choose how to stay involved.
Save Banchory-Devenick School
Our school.
Our future.
A local school is part of a community’s future. Help make the case for keeping Banchory-Devenick School.
The council is consulting on permanent closure. We’re asking for a fully evidenced, properly costed route to reopening.
An independent community campaign.
The proposalPermanent closureHave your say on the school’s future
Public meeting29 October · 6.30pmPortlethen Academy · 2026
Response deadline4 December · 4pmFriday 4 December 2026
01 / Understand the proposal
A decision that reaches
beyond the school gates.
What is being proposed?
Aberdeenshire Council proposes permanent closure and moving the catchment to Hillside or Lairhillock. The Lairhillock option also includes a choice of secondary catchment: Portlethen Academy or Mackie Academy.
The school is currently non-operational. The consultation is your opportunity to oppose permanent closure.
Read the official consultationOur campaign’s position
Give reopening a fair hearing.
We want the council to retain local education and assess a safe, sustainable reopening option in full. Families deserve a clear explanation of the alternatives before a permanent decision is made.
We value the staff and communities at neighbouring schools. This campaign is about the future of our own local provision.
A future for families
Consider younger children and future demand, alongside the needs of pupils who have already moved.
A fair assessment
Compare credible reopening options, essential works and long-term costs openly.
02 / Look at the evidence
Clear figures.
Important questions.
The council’s documents are the starting point. Our questions ask what those figures mean for a realistic reopening plan.
Council’s published estimate
£530,000
Total budget estimate for six categories of work, dated January 2026. This is a wider works package.
Heating upgrade£180,000
Electrical upgrade£150,000
Toilet upgrade£75,000
Flat roof upgrade£65,000
Playground resurfacing£50,000
Water tank replacement£10,000
Source: council proposal, section 5, table 2. Read the proposal (PDF) ↗
What we are asking the council
Which works are essential for reopening?
Separate immediate safety and compliance requirements from work that could reasonably be phased. Publish the supporting surveys, cost assumptions and a costed reopening option.
The council says the heating system needs to be assessed as a whole and that selective repairs risk further failures. A credible alternative must address that concern.
How do the building grades relate to the works?
The options appraisal records Condition B and Suitability A for Banchory-Devenick. These grades do not prove the building can reopen safely. We ask how they relate to the specific defects and proposed works.
Options appraisal, table 7 (PDF) ↗What would future demand look like?
Assess how many families would use a reopened school, including children below school age. Explain the assumptions and compare like-for-like scenarios. A forecast is an estimate, not a guaranteed future roll.
What is the full community and travel impact?
Show how journeys, transport costs, family routines and community use have been weighed alongside educational and financial considerations. Explain how residents’ evidence will influence the decision.
Our approach: Published facts are linked to their sources. Campaign questions and opinions are identified as such. We do not treat unanswered questions as proof of wrongdoing.
03 / Have your say
You can say no to closure.
You do not have to support either replacement-school option. The official survey includes ways to make that clear.
- 1
Open the official survey
Read the proposal and answer the introductory questions accurately.
- 2
State your position clearly
If you oppose closure, choose “No” at question 4. At question 5, you can select “None of the options”.
- 3
Explain why, in your own words
Question 6 includes “All” if you think all closure options should be discounted. Use questions 7 and 8 to explain your reasons and support retaining the school.
- 4
Submit before the deadline
Send your response by 4pm, Friday 4 December 2026. Keep a copy of what you submit.
Opens the council’s website. Follow the choices that reflect your own views.
Prefer to write directly?
The council also accepts emailed representations. Address yours to the Learning Estates Team and clearly identify Banchory-Devenick School.
04 / A date for your diary
Be in the room.
Make the case.
The public meeting is a chance to hear the proposal, ask specific questions and put your concerns on the record.
Add meeting to calendarOCTOBER 202629THURSDAY
Public consultation meeting
6.30pm · Portlethen Academy
Bring a question. Bring your local knowledge. Check the council’s page for any changes.
Council meeting details ↗05 / Read it for yourself
The source documents.
Go straight to the original material and form your own view.
PDFCommunity update report — October 2026Our campaign report bringing together the evidence, concerns and next stepsPDFClosure consultation proposalThe council’s proposal, rationale and consultation arrangementsPDF2026 options appraisalThe options considered, building grades and council assessmentsWEBAll consultation documents and mapsIncludes the financial template and proposed catchment boundariesWEBOfficial consultation hubCurrent consultation information and access to the survey
A few useful answers
Before you
respond.
Is this the school’s or council’s website?
No. This is an independent campaign supporting the retention of Banchory-Devenick School. It does not speak for the council, school staff or every local family.
Do I have to be a current parent to respond?
The survey includes community members and other respondents as well as parents and carers. Describe your connection accurately and explain why the proposal matters to you.
Is copying the suggested response enough?
It is a starting point. A specific personal response helps explain the practical impact: tell the council what you know, what you value and what you would like it to reconsider.
Does this website collect my survey response?
No. The survey opens on the council’s own website and your submission goes to the council. The copy button works in your browser; it does not send the wording to us. Our separate support registration and contact form send the information you choose to share to the campaign. Read our privacy information.