Rural action groups have hit out in a mass bid to save their schools ahead of Moray Council’s crunch education talks next week.
The Sustainable Education Review (SER) final report prepared by Caledonian Economics suggested that overall educational experience in very small schools is “limited” and that moving rural pupils to bigger schools would be “educationally beneficial”.
However, these conclusions drawn from the report, which has been labelled “virtually worthless”, have been refuted by rural communities across the region.
Speaking last night, Moray Council convener councillor Stewart Cree said the council would make the best educational decision for the children of Moray after discussing all the relevant information.
Retired lecturer in sociology, Carol Riddel, of the Save Dallas School group, said: “Although slickly presented, the Caledonian Economics report is a quite inadequate basis to propose a major change.
“It’s a poor quality report – poorly evidenced and virtually worthless. Crucial propositions are based on inadequate sampling, and the opinions of very small groups, unsubstantiated by wider research.
“Some important proposals and recommendations for Dallas School are based on no evidence at all, and the travel demands for children, in some cases under five, are quite unreasonable.”
A spokeswoman for Forres-based Support Anderson’s School said: “The parent forum voted with an overwhelming majority that they did not agree with the proposal to close Anderson’s Primary School.
“Anderson’s Primary meets the key points highlighted within the (SER), and we believe that there are many and various reasons why the proposal to close Anderson’s Primary School should be rejected.”
Rachel Gault, of Buckie and District Community Council, added: “Moray Council suggest that smaller schools, those with less than seven classes, are not able to provide the same curricular experiences as larger schools, these things are within the council’s powers to change.”
Mr Cree said he had received close to 150 responses to the report from committed campaigners and he understood their concerns.
He added: “We have tried to make it clear that the (SER) is about far more than bricks and mortar.
“The area based review group set out with the focus of finding the best educational future for the children in Moray.
“There were clearly gaps, but that’s not the reviews fault and, unfortunately, the SNP have now said no closures, despite not having all the information.
“But Monday’s meeting will allow councillors to get all the information and come to an informed decision. That’s what councillors do. “