MOVES TO SHIFT secondary school boundaries in Moray will be put councillors this week with a view to holding consultations in the new year.
Draft proposals were put to the children and young people’s services committee in October – now the same committee will be asked to approve a radical new approach that seeks to review catchment areas affecting pupils at Forres, Elgin, Lossiemouth, Burghead and Fochabers secondary schools.
Councillors will be asked to approve the final draft on the changes that would see a statutory term-time consultation period of 30 days from February 9. An Education Scotland report would then be acquired with a full consultation report published to allow a final decision to be taken in June next year.
If accepted the changes will see pupils from Elgin High School taking on pupils from New Elgin, Greenwards, Mosstowie and the new primary school announced this week. Pupils from West End, East End, Bishopmill and Seafield would go on to attend Elgin Academy.
Alves Primary pupils would, if the proposals go ahead as drafted, be zoned to Forres Academy. Those at Burghead primary, currently split between Elgin Academy and Lossiemouth High School, would all attend Lossiemouth.
Meanwhile Milne’s High School’s catchment area will be expanded under the plans to take in all pupils from Milne’s Primary, Lhanbryde and Mosstodloch primary schools.
The report being put to councillors on Wednesday has been authored by senior education adviser Paul Watson, who says the would be “significant benefits” for pupil continuity and progression, adding: “Undertaking a formal consultation on varying the catchment areas of secondary schools will be the next step in the rezoning process.”
Full details on the proposals can be downloaded from the Moray Council website.