Leader calls for Highland representation on Commission on the delivery of rural education

The absence of a Highland Council representative on the Commission appointed to review the delivery of rural education in Scotland has prompted the Leader of The Highland Council to write to Scottish Government seeking a rethink. 

Councillor Michael Foxley is extremely disappointed that Mike Russell, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, did not include a Highland Council representative on the Commission on the Delivery of Rural Education and has written to him asking that someone from the Highlands be included on the review body. 

Councillor Foxley wrote: “As the local authority representing one-third of the land mass of Scotland and having the greatest number of rural schools, we are extremely disappointed not to be currently included in the membership of the Commission on the Delivery of Rural Education. 

“Within the Highlands, there are 156 rural primary schools and we have commenced a school estate review based upon the feeder primaries within their associated school group. I believe that our procedures, which are based upon maximising educational benefit and thorough community engagement, comply fully not simply with the terms of the current legislation but most importantly with the spirit of the legislation.   

“We have completed work in the Greater Fort William area which as you know was called in by the Scottish Government and was then subsequently approved without conditions in three weeks. We have since been told that this exercise was an exemplar for school estate reviews. 

“We currently have pre-statutory consultation engagement ongoing in Caithness and in Easter Ross. As these engagements are at an informal, pre-statutory stage, we will continue with this work. This approach was approved at a meeting of the Council on 23rd June, 2011 and has cross-party support. 

“If there is any possibility of an increase in the membership of the Commission, then The Highland Council would be very keen to be included.”