awards were not made as the standard reached was not high enough. Yet, in

1891, the standard attained by bursary candidates was high enough for Mr.

Dunn, school inspector, to say, ‘It is a pity that there are only two bursaries

available (from Strathkinness and Boarhills), as all four candidates would

evidently have profited by Higher Education’. The successful candidates

were Thomas Taylor and William Thom, both from Strathkinness.

Only a small minority of children from Strathkinness School went on to

further education before 1942. After 1942 all pupils went for further edu-

cation of some kind in St. Andrews.

ii..

Whether Strathkinness School survives depends ultimately on government

policy which at the moment is in favour of closing small schools. It does not

seem that the school population of Strathkinness will change substantially in

the foreseeable future from its present number of thirty-six.

The closing of a small school which prepares its pupils well for further

education, as Strathkinness School does, should be weighed against the benefits

to the children and the community. The existence of a school in a village is

an important factor in keeping the community alive.

STRA THKINNESS

SCHOOL

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