APPROVAL HAS BEEN given to new catchment areas being attached to primary schools in Elgin.
A six-week long consultation period with parents, staff and community organisations earlier this year resulted in Councillors giving the all-clear to the move this week.
It was revealed that the vast majority of those who provided a response were supportive of the rezoning proposals which will now take effect from the start of the new school term in January.
Earlier this year Councillors were warned that without the rezoning exercise there was an increased risk of children being unable to attend their zoned school. According to forecasts the Elgin primary schools will exceed their current capacities by 2020 – leading to officers recommending the new zones for Bishopmill, Seafield, West End, East End, New Elgin and Greenwards Primary Schools.
According to Education Scotland, who considered the educational aspects of the proposals, there will be a number of educational benefits, their response saying: “They should lead to important improvements in the quality of learning environments for children, along with improved transitions for children from early learning and childcare settings to P1 at school.”
The proposals approved by full council earlier this week includes the creation of a catchment area for a new primary school which will require to be built to serve the rapidly expanding suburb to the south-east of Elgin.