Council issues clarification on school transport following rezonings

Moray Council has issued clarification to parents on the provision of school transport for their children following the revision of a number of school catchment areas.

A total of 24 schools have had their catchment areas amended to some extent over the past two years.

The council has now written to all parents of the schools affected by the changes to clarify the position on school transport for their children.

In his letter, director of education and social care Laurence Findlay said that pupils were entitled to free transport if they lived more than two miles from their zoned school.

However, parents or carers who chose to have their children educated at an establishment outwith their catchment school would be expected to meet their own transport costs.

“All children currently on the roll of a school when the catchment area changes will have the option of remaining at that school and continue to receive free transport if so entitled,” said Mr Findlay.

“All new enrolments will be on the basis of new catchment areas. Transport will only be provided – for those entitled – to the new zoned school. This includes younger siblings who have older siblings attending the previously zoned school.

Mr Findlay said that parents wishing younger siblings to attend the same previously zoned school as older siblings would have to make an out-of-zone placing request for younger siblings to attend a non-catchment area school.

“In these circumstances, parents will be required to meet transport costs for these younger siblings,” he added.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.