Borders village appeals for families to move in

A small village in the Borders has issued a call for families to consider moving to the area to help boost pupil numbers at the local school.

Heriot - near the region's northern boundary - has about 160 houses.

The community has made the plea after pupil numbers at the village primary fell below 26 - the number needed for two classes - for the first time in decades.

Rich Williams, who chairs the parent council, said pupils benefited from "really personalised attention from great teachers" and there was also plenty for parents to do.

The village is about a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh and also close to the Borders railway station at Gorebridge.

With a number of family homes up for sale, locals hope they can be sold to people with school-age children.

Mr Williams said Heriot's Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels compared "very favourably" with other local schools.

He said his family moved to the area about five years ago as they felt the children could "thrive in a small school" and also benefit from its "incredible outdoor facilities".

"But it's not just about the school's scores: everyone says Heriot children are special," he said.

"The values the school instils in them and the way the school is embedded in the local area as a hub for events and gathering means that children tend to grow up with a real sense of community spirit and togetherness."

He said there were "lots of things" for parents too.

"Beautiful hill walks are on your doorstep, while the cafes and boutique shops of Innerleithen and Peebles, and the mountain-bike trails at Glentress are just down the road," he said.

"In Heriot itself there's lots going on too, with a newly refurbished village hall, community cafe, ceilidhs, music nights, Bonfire Night event, pub nights, and an annual sports day to enjoy."

Community council secretary Gavin Whittaker said it was hoped people currently living further afield might be drawn to the area.

"Heriot is located in a beautiful part of the country, with immediate access to some fantastic walking and cycling routes," he said.

"We'd encourage people living in Edinburgh, Midlothian and elsewhere in the Scottish Borders to come and take a look and see what Heriot can offer you and your family."

Scottish Borders Council education officers have met both the community council and parent council in recent weeks to hear their concerns about reducing the number of classes.

Julie Pirone, who holds the education portfolio, said: "Heriot is a great school and we fully understand the concerns, but we have to work with the numbers that are in front of us.

"If the numbers change, we will come back and look at the classes again.

"Heriot is like many rural areas where there are now a lot less children than there used to be.

"We have not been very good at taking a joined-up approach at tackling this, and whether it's allowing more houses to be built or finding ways to encourage more families into the area then that is what we should be doing."