Moore House Academy Dunkeld is an independent school in rural Perthshire that was opened to cater for children with learning disabilities. The Jane Moore Trust took over control in 2019 after the school was forced to close owing to the financial difficulties of providing specialist care. The school was originally founded in 1992 by Victoria Linklater using Butterstone House on the family’s Riemore Estate in Dunkeld. Her daughter, Freya, was among the first pupils. Forming one of three schools in the group, including a Primary School opened by John Swinnie MSP in 2023, and the original Academy. Riemore Estate continues to be the landlord and is heavily invested in the school’s continued success which provides specialist day and residential care and education within the calm, rural environment of the upland estate.
Upon closure of the school in 2018, Alex, Veronica’s son, described the closure as a tragedy which left 24 students without an appropriate alternative education and 51 staff out of jobs. However, Moore House offered the school a second chance. The Academy has kept alive a tradition of teaching in rural Perthshire, beyond the habitual town-focus of mainstream education, while developing traditional properties for the use of students and care professionals. Butterstone is being set up to develop itself as a vital service for Perth & Kinross children and a centre of excellence for specialised teaching and neurodevelopment expertise.
However, to continue to provide specialist education, the building will require refurbishment, which Alex is committed to working towards with assistance from the local authority. The school encapsulates the spirit of Riemore and has created a buzzing social and communal atmosphere on the Estate.
The ethos created within the Dunkeld school provides children and young people with a happy, friendly and stimulating environment where they feel safe, secure and valued. The peaceful rural environment presents many outdoor learning opportunities and lends itself to naturally therapeutic approaches.
The campus can now cater for children from ages 5 to 18 years old, but numbers are limited with demand exceeding capacity. Placements are made in partnership with the local authorities, mainstream schools, health and social work professionals and parents.
Funding for each child is supported by the local authorities which invest their trust in the school to provide care and education for the most vulnerable children. The Riemore Estate and Linklater family provide their home and the aspiration that the estate can further support the development of the children with an investment in rural skills learned on the estate.
Volunteers play a vital role within the school community, offering individualised attention, tailored support and mentorship through education, environmental conservation, community outreach and event coordination. Ultimately, an extensive capital investment will be needed to expand and upgrade school facilities, and the Estate and school are exploring options to secure the school's future.