Moray Council to consult on £300m strategy for schools
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LOW-CARBON, digitally-enabled classrooms form part of Moray Council’s £300 million vision for schools over the next 20 years.
The council agreed at a meeting on Friday to consult on a long-term strategy for Moray's learning estate.
The strategy sets out a commitment that all learning premises should be a minimum B standard for both condition and suitability, recognising that the quality of the learning environment can impact on learning and attainment.
More than 50 per cent of pupils in Moray are currently learning in below-standard school buildings.
Just one primary school in Moray is classed as being in a good condition, while 20 are satisfactory and a further 24 are poor.
Meanwhile, two secondary schools are classed as good, one is satisfactory and another five are poor.
The council said that under the proposed investment-driven strategy, bespoke projects developed to meet the needs of individual areas in Moray could see new schools built, catchment areas rezoned and the integration of schools with other public services to provide community hubs.
Projects will mirror national aspirations outlined in Scotland’s Learning Estate Strategy in a bid to secure Scottish Government investment.
The initial focus is likely to be on Buckie, Elgin and Forres, where there’s a need to create more capacity due to increasing school rolls. Areas which have schools with serious maintenance issues will also be prioritised.
Council convener, Councillor Shona Morrison, said transforming the way learning is delivered was vital to meet the needs of Moray’s growing population.
She said: "Different communities within Moray will have different needs, so it’s important that we don’t have a 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
"Detailed proposals will be developed for each area, and meaningful consultation and engagement with communities will play a huge part in deciding what each of these projects will look like.
"There aren’t any specific proposals at this stage. What this strategy aims to do is pave a way forward so that the best decisions can be made for each area within Moray.
"There is no short-term fix. It’s about future-proofing learning environments to make sure our children, young people and adults are learning in stimulating and inspiring settings.
"Importantly, this approach we’re recommending will help us attract essential funding to invest in our buildings."
