PROPOSALS to safeguard rural schools and for better consultation before all proposed closures were launched today by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education.
Speaking at a rural Ayrshire primary school as she launched a consultation on a "Safeguarding Rural Schools" Bill seeking the views of parents, young people, teachers and other interested groups, Ms Hyslop said:
"Local schools are an important par
t of ensuring vibrant local communities and local economies in villages across rural Scotland.
"It is important that rural schools get the protection that they need and this Government wants their future safeguarded.
"There can be much heart-ache and time-consuming efforts in current consultations and we want to try and relieve that.
"This Government wants to make the process for handling all school closures fairer, more robust and more transparent, and we want to see better consultation before any decision is taken.
"Our proposals would lead to a number of improvements in the way authorities consult on all school closures.
"They would have to provide an educational benefit statement, consult for a minimum of six weeks of term time and extend the list of consultees to include among others, HMIE.
"In the case of rural schools specifically, the authorities would also have to have regard to alternatives to closure, the impact on the community including use of the buildings and the impact on the environment of new travel requirements.
"The consultation will run until September 19 to allow for school holidays and giving a full three months of term time for responses and therefore plenty of opportunity for everyone to register their views. I would urge everyone with an interest in schools to take part."
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