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Fears Aberdeenshire school zones changes would “centralise” decision-making

Changes to the rules which allow Aberdeenshire parents to send their children to schools of their choice were approved yesterday despite fears it could lead to the policy being "centralised".
Changes to the rules which allow Aberdeenshire parents to send their children to schools of their choice were approved yesterday despite fears it could lead to the policy being "centralised".

Parents will have to overcome tougher rules to get their child into an out-of-zone school from next year.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s education committee yesterday strengthened the current out-of-zone policy,

The local authority currently receives hundreds of placing requests from parents looking to send their young ones to schools beyond the ones they are zoned to every years.

But under the changes to the policy – which will be rolled out next January – the council has reinforced its legal right to refuse placing requests applications if it would result in more teaching staff being hired or money being spent to increase the preferred school’s capacity.

All out-of-zone placement requests will also now be handled centrally at the council’s headquarters, rather than by the head teachers of the school.

The council believes the changes will make the process more “streamlined” and allow parents to have the best possible understanding of the process, reasons for refusals and the appeal process.

But Ellon councillor Isobel Davidson raised her concerns about the changes yesterday, and said: “I am concerned about the centralisation of the decision-making. We are concerned that the local decision-making would be taken away.

“It is quite important that decisions are made as close to the area that is affected as much as possible.”

Director of education Maria Walker said: “It is much more about the streamlining of the process, it is about fairness and equality so one parent isn’t treated one way and another the other way.”

Head teacher at Bervie School, Susan Smith – who attended the meeting – stuck up for the new policy and said dealing with the requests were often an “added burden”.

She said: “It is important that the team dealing with these let you know about decisions which are being made. It will be done centrally with the schools involved. It is going to make our jobs easier.”

Troup councillor, Mark Findlater, said he was “not a fan of centralisation” but concluded the changes were “the best way forward”.