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All through last week, The Herald ran an ongoing special report called The New Highland Clearances. The series covered issues including housing, healthcare, jobs, demographics and, of course, education.

In Sutherland, rapid population decline means that a school built for 200 pupils currently has just 33 enrolled, with numbers forecast to drop by a further third over the next eight years; meanwhile, on the other side of the highlands, the community in Strontian is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the opening of their community school.

In both cases, the role of education in sustaining the viability of communities is clear – it’s just a shame that so many decision-makers are unable, or unwilling, to see it.

Sadly, these aren’t isolated stories. Today, we’re reporting on a new campaign, Save Our Rural Schools, which has been launched by parents from four different parts of the highlands – Farr, Gairloch, Kinlochbervie and Ullapool. The group warns that their communities are being put at risk by staffing formulas that disadvantage small rural schools. They have published an open letter to education secretary Jenny Gilruth and Highland council leader Raymond Bremner, and are inviting people to sign it.

Over the weekend,........

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