Image from Kilgraston’s Facebook page

Kilgraston School in Perthshire which announced it close permanently later this month might be saved from closure after parents and supporters raised £1.2 million within 48 hours, Yahoo has reported.

Loss of income due to Covid lockdowns was blamed for the decision to shut the 97-year-old Catholic independent school which has 217 pupils and 116 staff..

Now headteacher Tanya Davie has told parents there’s a “real interest from investors” after a fundraising campaign was launched on Friday, with an aim of raising £2 million.

BBC Scotland reported that “an experienced and successful education provider” is ready to invest in the school’s long-term future, inspired by the support of the parents. The unnamed investor is said to run two successful independent schools.

The trustees of the school gave a presentation to parents on Friday morning outlining the reasons behind their decision.

There is “light at the end of the tunnel,” one parent said as more than 200 parents and staff dialed into a meeting to look at options of saving the school

An immediate cash injection of £2m was needed, an insolvency and restructuring expert told the meeting.

Damian Hind, a parent of a pupil at the school, said “Not a single parent was aware of the issues raised by the trustees. Obviously, that caused alarm and a great deal of upset.

“We are more than halfway to our target and we are confident that will be reached by Friday, all in the knowledge that a complete restructure is being planned to keep Kilgraston open.”