Issue - meetings

Consider report by Director Education and Lifelong Learning.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Education and Lifelong Learning seeking approval for the adoption of a Mothballing Policy, to be adopted by Education and Lifelong Learning, in respect of schools where the pupil roll was either zero or very low and the Council and/or the Community considered that while the school was not presently viable, there was a reasonable prospect that the number of pupils in the area would increase, to allow the school to re-open in the near future.  The report explained that there was no statutory process for mothballing a school.  However, the Statutory Guidance that accompanied the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (the Act) made specific reference to mothballing.  The proposed policy, a copy of which was appended to the report, has been prepared on the basis of the Statutory Guidance to the Act and to ensure that:-

a)         the mothballing process was a consultative process that involved the families and community; and

b)         a review framework was incorporated in the process to ensure that there was a regular review of the numbers of potential pupils in the area and a dialogue between Council officers and the community about the future of the school.

Members noted the need for such a policy.  In response to a question on the need for trigger points within the Policy, Mrs Munro advised that these were contained within the Small Schools Policy which was currently being reviewed.  This latter Policy also contained information on preventative work to try and stop schools reaching this point.  The importance of the involvement of parents at every stage was highlighted.  Members welcomed the policy and noted that a briefing on the process leading up to the mothballing of schools would be provided by the Director of Education and Lifelong Learning.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the adoption of the new Mothballing Policy, as contained in the Appendix to the report, with immediate effect.