Councillors are being urged to approve a shake-up of Elgin’s six primary schools – and to get the ball moving on two new-build projects.
It emerged earlier this year that four of the town’s six primaries are likely to be over capacity by 2018.
Moray Council was warned that if urgent action was not taken, pupils would need to be bussed out of town to take lessons.
The forecast prompted the local authority to launch a consultation, discussing new zoning areas with parents, teachers and community groups across Elgin.
Now a dossier drawing together the findings have been circulated to councillors, who will decide on how best to enact its suggestions at a meeting next month.
The report recommends that new zones be approved for every primary school in the town.
And it suggests the zones should be finalised and in effect from January in order to conquer overcrowding issues.
Officers have also recommended that a catchment area be agreed to serve a new primary school in the growing south-east section of Elgin, and that moves be made to establish a building there by next August.
To cater for an anticipated population boom to the north of Elgin, where a development of 1,500 homes will soon get under way, councillors have been urged to form a new primary in that area as well.
Education Scotland yesterday hailed the benefits of ensuring class rolls remained at manageable levels.
A spokesman said: “These changes should lead to important improvements in the quality of learning environments for children, along with improved transitions for children from early learning and childcare settings to P1 at school.”
The plans will be discussed at a meeting of the full council on November 11.
In August councillors agreed to displace Elgin’s Heritage Centre from its base at East End Primary to the town’s library in an effort to create more teaching space at the school.
The removal of the historical collection will free up room for 130 more youngsters.