Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 - Relocation of Tobermory 2-18 Campus
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 June 2025
Back to Community Services Committee — 5 June 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 5 JUNE 2025 SCHOOLS (CONSULTATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 – TOBERMORY 2-18 CAMPUS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report provides details of a draft Proposal to relocate the current Tobermory 2-18 Campus to a new purpose-built 2-18 campus school building in accordance with the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The Proposal Paper, attached as Appendix 1, provides details of the background for the Proposal, the likely educational benefits and effects arising from the Proposal, and outlines the proposed arrangements for a statutory consultation exercise on the Proposal. 1.2 The Proposal does not seek to incorporate the associated primary schools into the new campus building, nor will it change the current leadership and management structure within the 2-18 campus. it is proposed that the formal consultation on the Proposal will be undertaken under the terms of the 2010 Act, commencing on 18th August 2025 (with due written notice of the Proposal issued to the relevant consultees listed in Appendix 1) and ending on 26th September 2025. In addition, it is proposed that a public meeting will be held on Tuesday 9th September in Tobermory 2-18 Campus at 6pm. 1.3 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee agrees to adopt the draft Proposal (as set out in Appendix 1) as a “Relevant Proposal” that should now proceed to a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, in accordance with the timeframe as set out in the draft Proposal Paper.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 5 JUNE 2025 SCHOOLS (CONSULTATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 – TOBERMORY 2-18 CAMPUS 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, if a local authority proposes to relocate a school, it must undertake a statutory consultation with the “relevant consultees” affected by this proposal. In this instance, o Tobermory ELC o Tobermory Primary o Tobermory High and the following primary schools that are associated primaries: o Dervaig Primary School o Salen Primary Gaelic and English medium School and ELCs o Lochdonhead Primary School and o Ulva Primary School are the “affected schools” in terms of the 2010 Act. For the avoidance of any doubt, this proposal does not include the incorporation of the associated primaries into the new campus building, nor will it change the current leadership and management structure within the 2-18 campus. 2.2 Any formal consultation exercise on the Proposal contained within the draft Proposal Paper at Appendix 1 will proceed in terms of the requirements of the 2010 Act. The consultation period would commence on 18th August 2025 (with due written notice of the Proposal issued to the relevant consultees under the Act) and end on 26th September 2025. Written representations must be received by the closing date in order to be taken into account.
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RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Community Services Committee agree to adopt the draft Proposal, as set out in Appendix 1, as a “Relevant Proposal” that is now to proceed to a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, in accordance with the timeframe as set out with the draft Proposal Paper. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Tobermory 2-18 Campus is a co-educational, non-denominational school serving the town of Tobermory along with the surrounding area. The school is situated in The Manse Erray Road, in Tobermory. Tobermory Campus is an all- through school with children and young people aged 2-18 years. The campus consists of an early learning and childcare (ELC) provision, a primary and a high school 4.2 Given the current Tobermory Campus is assessed to be ‘C - poor’ in terms of suitability there is a requirement to improve the situation. This is currently the only school building in Argyll and Bute with that suitability rating. The lower grading of the Tobermory Campus building is largely driven by accessibility, restrictive drop off space, lack of social spaces and restricted specialised classes. 4.3 This Proposal is being advanced because Tobermory 2-18 Campus currently suffers from poor quality accommodation. Relocating the school would permit the construction of a new purpose-built campus and considerably improved Education accommodation. The opportunity to build a new building has arisen from the successful application for funding from the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). 4.4 The draft Proposal Paper (Appendix 1) suggests relocating the current Tobermory 2-18 Campus school building to a new purpose-built campus on a new site in Tobermory. 4.5 A Proposal to relocate a school is a “Relevant Proposal” in terms of Schedule 1 to the 2010 Act, and as such, is subject to a statutory consultation process. 4.6 If such a process is commenced, the Education Service will give notice of the Proposal to the relevant consultees and invite representations on the Proposal. Details of the consultation exercise will also be published on the Council’s website for access by the wider public. During the consultation period, the Education Service will also hold a public meeting to discuss the proposal and involve Education Scotland in the consultation process. Full details of the consultation process are set out within the draft Proposal Paper (Appendix 1).
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5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Attached to this report is a draft Proposal Paper in respect of relocating the current Tobermory 2-18 Campus school building to a new purpose-built campus. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy - If this draft Proposal is adopted, it will result in a statutory consultation exercise on the same. At the conclusion of the statutory consultation, the Proposal will be reviewed, and a Consultation Report will be presented to a future meeting of the Committee where a decision will be made by the Committee on whether or not to implement the proposal. 6.2 Financial – The cost of building the new campus is estimated at £43 million. 6.3 Legal - Any relevant proposal requires to be considered by way of a statutory consultation, carried out in accordance with the 2010 Act, prior to being implemented. 6.4 HR - none 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty - none at present 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – will be examined in the context of the Council’s Integrated Impact Assessments toolkit. If a statutory consultation exercise is agreed, officers will conduct an Equalities and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment as part of the Integrated Impact Assessment on the consultation exercise, which would be incorporated into the Service’s final Consultation Report, to be presented to Committee at a later date. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - will be examined in the context of the Council’s Integrated Impact Assessments toolkit. If a statutory consultation exercise is agreed, officers will conduct an Equalities and Socio- Economic Impact Assessment as part of the Integrated Impact Assessment on the consultation exercise, which would be incorporated into the Service’s final Consultation Report, to be presented to Committee at a later date. 6.5.3 Islands - will be examined in the context of the Council’s Integrated Impact Assessments toolkit. If a statutory consultation exercise is agreed, officers will conduct an Islands Impact Assessment as part of the Integrated Impact Assessment on the consultation exercise, which
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would be incorporated into the Service’s final Consultation Report, to Committee at a later date. 6.6 Climate Change - none 6.7 Risk – none at present 6.8 Customer Service – none at present 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – will be examined in the context of the Council’s Integrated Impact Assessments toolkit. If a statutory consultation exercise is agreed, officers will conduct a Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Assessment as part of the Integrated Impact Assessment on the consultation exercise, which would be incorporated into the Service’s final Consultation Report, to Committee at a later date. Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Education Councillor Audrey Forrest – Policy Lead for Education 14th May 2025 For further information contact: Wendy Brownlie – Head of Education: Performance and Improvement Louise Lawson – Education Officer – Education and community Engagement LEIP APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Proposal Paper