Dechmont Infant School will remain shuttered for a third year, councillors have agreed.
The nursery was mothballed in 2024 as pupil numbers dipped, and Dechmont children have since attended primary school in Broxburn.
A new primary school for Dechmont children is expected to open next year as part of the housing development of the neighbouring Bangour village.
Dechmont which used to take children from P1-4 was the last remaining infant school in Scotland.
The new school at Bangour will be a full primary taking P1-P7 children.
In a report presented to this month’s meeting of the Education PDSP officers stated: “The closing date for applications for Dechmont Infant School was 31 December 2025. To date, two applications have been received for the P1 stage at Dechmont infant school. Both applications contain second choices, and in each case, it is anticipated that the second-choice school can be granted.
“The closing date for applications for Dechmont Infant School Nursery Class is 15 March 2026. To date, no first-choice applications have been received for Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) at Dechmont Infant School Nursery Class.
“Although the closing date for ELC applications has not yet passed, the PDSP is asked to consider the temporary closure of the Infant School and Nursery Class based on current information in order to give parents/carers greater certainty as early as possible, as agreed when the initial decision on temporary closure was taken.”
Councillors agreed children resident in the catchment area of Dechmont Infant School and due to commence education in school session 2026/27 will be offered a place at Kirkhill Primary School, Broxburn, or the alternative school of their parents’/carers’ choice.
By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter
