Sustainable schools policy go-ahead

Moray councillors today approved a draft policy on sustainable schools, despite attempts to have the issue deferred.

The policy will now go out to consultation with parent councils, head teachers and trade unions.

A motion to defer consideration of the policy document to allow workshops to be arranged for councillors and to give them the opportunity to carry out school visits was defeated by 10 votes to six.

The policy contains six criteria against which the sustainability of a school will be measured.

Each criterion has a number of indicators which will help in identifying whether a school is sustainable.

A report to the council’s children and young people’s services committee said: “Officers have researched suitable criteria and indicators for sustainable schools and have concluded, first and foremost, the quality of education offered by a school must be of greatest importance.

“There is also a necessity to ensure schools are financially viable and that school rolls and enrolment trends indicate that schools will continue to be sustainable.”

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 92,500 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.