A new body is being set up to support Scotland's small rural schools.

The move has come from the Scottish School Boards Association, which says local councils are preparing a fresh round of closures.

Meanwhile, a government initiative to save rural schools from the axe has failed to win a single reprieve in more than a year since it was launched.

Rising concern over rural school closures prompted the then Education Minister Brian Wilson to make the so-called "Dunoon declaration" 15 months ago.

Under its terms no rural school would be allowed to shut because of cost alone - the educational advantages of closing it would have to outweigh the adverse effect on the community.

Final decision

The government promised its new standard would be applied to rural closures which were subject to a final decision by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Since then, however, just one school has come before the secretary of state, the 11-pupil Portnahaven Primary on Islay.

Parents and pupils there have been waiting nearly six months for a decision.

If that does not arrive by the end of the month, the task will pass to the new Scottish administration, which assumes full powers in July.