Written Question · S2W-28742 · Session 2
What discussions it has had with local authorities on the consultation process that should be carried out in connection with rural school c…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on the consultation process that should be carried out in connection with rural school closures, in light of the issues raised by Petition PE872.
The answer
The statutory requirementsfor consultation on any local authority school closure proposal are set out inthe Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.)(Scotland)Regulations 1981. Guidance on these regulations was issued in 1981 and the Scottish Executive issued additional guidance in September 2004 on handlingproposals for changes to the school estate, including school closures, whetherrural or urban.
Following requests fromParliament, I asked COSLA to consider preparing further guidance forauthorities on improving the consultation processes. COSLA is therepresentative body for local authorities in Scotland, and the COSLA workinggroup which produced the recently issued guide on School Estates Managementcomprised local authority members and officers. The COSLA guide in no wayovertakes or replaces the Executive’s guidance.
When COSLA issued their guide,I wrote to local authority Education Conveners emphasising the importance of the quality of consultations with parents and others on school estate matters.
Following requests fromParliament, I asked COSLA to consider preparing further guidance forauthorities on improving the consultation processes. COSLA is therepresentative body for local authorities in Scotland, and the COSLA workinggroup which produced the recently issued guide on School Estates Managementcomprised local authority members and officers. The COSLA guide in no wayovertakes or replaces the Executive’s guidance.
When COSLA issued their guide,I wrote to local authority Education Conveners emphasising the importance of the quality of consultations with parents and others on school estate matters.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-28742 by reference.