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Plan to save rural Scots schools | Plan to save rural Scots schools |
(40 minutes later) | |
Plans to safeguard the future of Scotland's rural schools have been announced by ministers. | Plans to safeguard the future of Scotland's rural schools have been announced by ministers. |
The proposed legislation would toughen the consultation procedures which councils must follow when proposing any major education changes. | |
The Scottish Government said the move would protect small, fragile local economies and communities. | The Scottish Government said the move would protect small, fragile local economies and communities. |
The SNP manifesto had pledged to bring in a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools. | The SNP manifesto had pledged to bring in a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools. |
Rural school closures have caused public concern across the UK, although councils argue that keeping schools with low pupil numbers open is difficult to justify. | Rural school closures have caused public concern across the UK, although councils argue that keeping schools with low pupil numbers open is difficult to justify. |
Since 1998, there has been an average of eight rural schools closed per year in Scotland. | |
By focusing on rural schools, we are also helping to safeguard a way of life Fiona HyslopScottish education secretary | |
Scottish Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the Schools (Consultation) Bill would play a vital role in bolstering opportunities and services in rural communities and would make the process more open. | |
Ms Hyslop launched the bill, to amend current legislation from 1981, at a 10-pupil primary school in Dalwhinnie, in the Highlands. | |
"The majority of the children who attend here are the children of local gamekeepers whose work is essential in sustaining and fuelling the local economy," said the education secretary. | |
"By focusing on rural schools, we are also helping to safeguard a way of life." | |
The legislation, if passed by parliament, would require local authorities to publish and advertise detailed proposals on any major changes to education provision, and hold a consultation for a minimum of six weeks of term time - although these would not need to run consecutively. | |
Final decision | |
Education inspectors would also have to give their views on changes, while pupils and teachers would get more of a say. | Education inspectors would also have to give their views on changes, while pupils and teachers would get more of a say. |
A report on the proposals would then have to be released, with a block on councils being able to make their final decision until at least three weeks after its publication. | |
Ministers also want to put the decision-making process over school closures firmly in the hands of local authorities. | |
The bill would replace the need for certain council decisions to be referred to the government, with a ministerial power to call them in where local authorities fail to comply with the legislation. | |
A total of 41% of of primary and 23% of secondary schools in Scotland are classed as rural. | |
Rural school closures have caused an outcry from parents and the public in Wales. | |
However, the assembly government has said there are more than 80,000 empty places, maintained at a cost of £30m a year. |
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