Rezoning plans published for five Moray secondaries

Moray Council has today published proposals for the rezoning of five of its secondary schools following a recent public consultation.

Secondary school catchment areas have remained virtually unchanged for the past 40 years.

Following a six-week consultation, education officers are recommending  the implementation of the new zones with effect from October 24 this year.

Their recommendation will go before the council’s children and young people’s committee for approval next month.

The new zones for Elgin Academy, Elgin High, Forres Academy, Lossiemouth High and Milne’s High will coincide almost exactly with the catchment areas of their feeder primary schools.

One of the main changes will see Burghead Primary – which has been dual zoned to Elgin Academy and Lossiemouth High since 1981 – zoned to Lossiemouth High only.

The council’s draft proposals were scrutinised by Education Scotland who concluded that there were clear educational benefits and that removing the dual zoning and separate transition programmes in particular schools would enhance continuity in learning.

They also noted that the proposals would help staff to work together across associated school groups on shared plans for broad general education and on pastoral and curricular transition arrangements between primary and secondary education.

In response to issues raised by respondents from the Troves area to the south-east of Elgin, officers are recommending that this area remains within the Elgin Academy catchment.

It is proposed that the council will carry out a further consultation on rezoning the Troves area from Lhanbryde Primary to the new primary school earmarked for south-east Elgin once it relocates to its permanent site off Linkwood Road.

Officers are also recommending that the area to the north of the A96 and west of the River Lossie should continue to be zoned to Elgin Academy rather than to Milne’s High as originally proposed.

The council has also published a report following public consultation on a revised policy on admissions to schools which has been reviewed and updated to ensure it remains compliant with legislation.

Officers believe that the new policy offers clear educational benefits and will enable children across Moray to have fair and equitable access to education in line with the council’s statutory responsibilities, as well as enabling the council to ensure best value in managing its school estate.

It is proposed that the updated policy, which will also go before elected members next month, will take effect from the start of next session.