SCHOOLS (CONSULTATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 DALMALLY PRIMARY SCHOOL Appendix A (Consultation Report)
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 March 2025
Back to Community Services Committee — 6 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Education Service CONSULTATION REPORT Report on the outcome of the consultation relating to the proposal to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School February 2025 This document has been issued by Argyll and Bute Council in accordance with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended. If you need this information in another language or format, please contact us to discuss how we can best meet your needs. Phone: 01369 708576 Email: argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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CONTENTS 1. Summary of the Proposal 2. Reasons for the Proposal 3. Introduction 4. Background 6. Equality and Socio-Economic Impact 6. The Consultation Process 7. Pupil Engagement 8. Responses to the Consultation Exercise 9. Education Authority Response to Written/Oral Representations 10. Education Scotland Report 11. Education Authority Response to Education Scotland Report 12. Compliance with Section 9(1) of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 13. Alleged Omissions or Inaccuracies 14. Conclusion 15. Recommendation Appendix 1 – Proposal paper Appendix 2 – Equality and socio-economic impact assessment Appendix 3– Note of the public meeting Appendix 4 – Pupil focus group notes Appendix 5 – Education Scotland Report
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1. SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSAL 1.1 The Proposal is to rezone the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School so that it is extended to include the whole catchment area of the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School. 2. REASONS FOR THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The Education Service has reviewed the historic decisions in relation to the closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary School in 2004. In particular, the decision taken at that time in respect of its catchment area – namely, that families in that area were given the option for pupils to attend either Dalmally Primary School or Crianlarich Primary School (which is situated within the local authority area of Stirling Council). 2.2 Following the recent review, Argyll and Bute Council’s Education Service identified a number of potential issues with the present arrangement, which in effect can automatically place pupils in a school outwith the Education Authority’s area. 2.3 Argyll and Bute Council therefore conducted a consultation exercise on the Proposal to realign the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School to subsume the entire previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary School. 3. INTRODUCTION 3.1 This is a Consultation Report prepared in compliance with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended (the 2010 Act), on the above Proposal. 3.2 The purpose of this report is to: • Provide a record of the total number of written responses made during the statutory consultation period; • Provide a summary of any written responses; • Provide a summary of any oral representations made at the public meeting, held on 17th September 2024. • Provide a statement of the Council’s response to any written and oral representations; • Provide the full text of Education Scotland’s report and a statement of the Council’s response to this report; • State how the Council reviewed the proposal following the representations received during the statutory consultation period and receipt of the report from Education Scotland; and • Provide details of any omission from, or inaccuracy in, the Proposal Paper and state how the Council acted upon these.
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4. BACKGROUND 4.1 Dalmally Primary School is a co-educational, non-denominational school serving the villages of Dalmally and Loch Awe along with the surrounding area. The School, built in 1975, is situated in the Glenview housing scheme in Dalmally. The School and its nursery unit cater for children from the age of 3 through to 12 years. The school roll as of January 2025 is 21, as per the table below: Dalmally Primary School School Roll January 2025 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Total 1 1 2 2 6 3 6 21 4.2 Crianlarich Primary School is a co-educational, non-denominational school within the Stirling Council area. The school’s local authority catchment area serves the communities of Crianlarich and Tyndrum. The school caters for primary aged children only with nursery children accessing provision at Killin Nursery. The school roll as of January 2025 is 23, as per the table below: Crianlarich Primary School School Roll January 2025 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Total 1 2 6 2 3 6 3 23 4.3 On 6th May 2004 the Strategic Policy Committee (Education) of Argyll and Bute Council considered the Bridge of Orchy Primary School Consultative Document. The decision was taken that the submitted report be issued as a consultation document and circulated to all parties in terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981. A further report by the Director on the results of the consultative process was to be prepared for a future meeting of the Committee. 4.4 On 15th July 2004 the Strategic Policy Committee (Education) met to consider the findings of that consultation exercise. The Committee recommended to the Council the permanent closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary School. 4.5 Later that day (on 15th July 2004) a meeting of the full Council considered the above recommendation of the Strategic Policy Committee (Education). The Council agreed to the permanent closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary school
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with pupils residing within the Bridge of Orchy catchment area to be rezoned to a choice between either Dalmally or Crianlarich Primary Schools.1 4.6 On 22nd August 2024, Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee adopted the current Proposal to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School as a “Relevant Proposal” in terms of the 2010 Act and agreed to proceed with the statutory consultation process: Agenda for Community Services Committee on 22nd August 2024 – agenda item 7 4.7 The Education Service has reviewed historic decisions in relation to the closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary School in 2004. In particular, the decision taken at that time in respect of its catchment area – namely, that families in that area were given the option for pupils to attend either Dalmally Primary School or Crianlarich Primary School (which is situated within the local authority area of Stirling Council). 4.8 Following this recent review, Argyll and Bute Council’s Education Service has identified a number of potential issues with the present arrangement, which in effect can automatically place pupils in a school outwith the Education Authority’s area. Argyll and Bute Council therefore conducted a consultation exercise on the Proposal to re-align the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School to subsume the entire previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary school. 4.9 Full details of the Proposal can be found within the Proposal Paper, which is attached as Appendix 1. 5. EQUALITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT 5.1 The Council, as a public authority, has a duty under the Equality Act 2010, the Public Sector Equality Duty 2011, the Fairer Scotland Duty and the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 to have due regard to their provisions when making strategic financial decisions. This is done through assessing the potential impact of the decision on equality through Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessments (EqSEIAs). The full EqSEIA in respect to the Proposal to rezone the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School is attached as Appendix 2. 6. THE CONSULTATION PROCESS 6.1 Following the Community Services Committee’s decision of 22nd August 2024 – where it agreed to adopt the Proposal as a “Relevant Proposal” in terms of the 2010 Act and issue it as a basis for consultation – the Proposal Paper was made available on the Argyll and Bute Council website: 1 A typographical error in the minute of the decision of this meeting reports pupils attending Crianlarich Primary School instead of the agreed parental choice between Crianlarich or Dalmally Primary Schools.
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School consultations and proposals | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll- bute.gov.uk) 6.2 A Summary of the Proposal (including details of where/how to access the full Proposal Paper) was made available to the following “relevant consultees” in terms of the 2010 Act: • The Parent Councils of the affected schools; • The parents of the pupils at the affected schools; • All Early Years Establishments in the local area of the affected schools, giving access to parents who have children expected to attend the affected schools within two years of the publication of the Proposal Paper; • The pupils at the affected schools (in so far as the Education Authority considers them to be of suitable age and maturity); • All employees at the affected schools; • Trade union representatives of employees at the affected schools; • Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council; • Strathfillan Community Council; • All relevant users of the affected schools; • Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership; • Stirling Community Planning Partnership; and • Stirling Council Education Service 6.3 A Summary of the Proposal (including details of where/how to access the full Proposal Paper) was also made available to: • Argyll and Bute Councillors for Ward 5 – Oban North and Lorn; • Stirling Councillors for Trossachs and Teith Ward • The Constituency MSPs for the areas of the affected schools; • List MSPs for the areas of the affected schools; • The MPs for the areas of the affected schools; • Argyll and Bute Council School Transport Team; 6.4 It was also possible for the Proposal Paper to be made available in alternative forms or translated by contacting Argyll House, Dunoon. 6.5 Hard copies of the Proposal Paper were made available for inspection, free of charge, at the Council Headquarters (Kilmory, Lochgilphead), Dalmally Primary School and Crianlarich Primary School. 6.6 Summary Proposals were emailed to notify Education Scotland and all relevant consultees (as prescribed by Schedule 2 of the 2010 Act) of the Proposal and consultation exercise. All consultees were invited to make representations as part of the consultation process. 6.7 The consultation period started on 26th August 2024 and ended on 4th October 2024 – a minimum of 6 weeks which included at least 30 school days, as required by Section 6(4) of the 2010 Act. Interested parties wishing to make written
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responses to the proposal were invited to respond no later than close of business on 4th October 2024. 6.8 A public meeting was duly convened on 17th September 2024 in Dalmally Primary School at 6:00pm. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting and participate was welcome to do so. Advance written notice of this meeting was given to all Relevant Consultees, in terms of the 2010 Act and advertised for the attention of the wider public. The meeting was convened by the Education Authority who was prepared to present the reasons for bringing forward the Proposal. An opportunity for questions to be asked and comments to be made would have also been made available. However, there were no members of the public in attendance at the Public Meeting. A note of the public meeting is attached as Appendix 3. 6.9 This Consultation Report is the Council’s response to the representations made in relation to the Proposal as part of the consultation exercise. It will be published on the Council’s website for a period of no less than three weeks prior to the final consideration of the Proposal by the Council’s Community Services Committee on 6th March 2025 7. PUPIL ENGAGEMENT 7.1 The Proposal could have an impact on pupils, parents, communities and schools. In this regard, pupils’ views are a significant part of the consultation process and pupils potentially impacted by the proposed rezoning took part in focus groups to identify both positive and negative impacts of the Proposal. 7.2 Officers from the Education Service invited engagement on the Proposal from children living in the Bridge of Orchy area attending Dalmally Primary School and Crianlarich Primary School, as the other affected school. 7.3 Two pupil focus groups were consulted. The first, on 5th September 2024 at Crianlarich Primary School, consisted of six pupils attending the school who live within the Bridge of Orchy area. The second focus group met on 5th September 2024 at Dalmally Primary School, and consisted of six pupils, four of whom live within the Bridge of Orchy area. 7.4 All pupils in the two focus groups were deemed to be of suitable age and maturity to be able to communicate a view on the Proposal. 7.5 The pupils were given information regarding the Proposal and asked for their thoughts and ideas through a series of questions which are detailed in Appendix 4, along with pupil responses, which can be summarised as follows: • Pupils recognised that if the catchment area for Dalmally Primary was rezoned it could mean more pupils at Dalmally Primary School with increased opportunities for making friends. • Pupils shared that it could mean additional transport costs for parents wishing to make a placing request to Crianlarich Primary in the future.
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• Pupils were asked what others may be concerned about in regard to the Proposal and they identified increased costs to the Council and the possible need for increased staffing if the school roll at Dalmally increased, as they know it’s hard to get teachers. • Pupils also voiced an appreciation at being included in the consultation. 8. RESPONSES TO THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE 8.1 Zero written responses were received by the Council in relation to this consultation exercise via the Council’s online platform or via post. 8.2 A public meeting was convened at Dalmally Primary School on 17th September 2024, in accordance with the 2010 Act requirements, with the intent to gather oral responses to the Proposal. Officers from the Education Authority, an Inspector from Education Scotland and a local Ward Councillor attended, but no members of the public were in attendance at the meeting, meaning that there was no opportunity to gather oral representations on the Proposal. 9. EDUCATION AUTHORITY RESPONSE TO WRITTEN AND ORAL REPRESENTATIONS 9.1 As per Section 8 above, zero written responses were received in response to the consultation via the Council’s online platform or via post, nor were there any oral representations made at the public meeting. 9.2 The views of pupils have been a crucial element to the consultation on the Proposal. Pupils’ views were gathered through focus groups and are summarised in Section 7, above, with detailed responses contained within Appendix 4. 9.3 The Education Service agree with what pupils anticipate being the educational benefits for those attending Dalmally Primary. This potential benefit primarily being more pupils attending Dalmally Primary with the impact of additional peers to play and learn with. Additionally, the capacity of Dalmally Primary would adequately cover the anticipated increase in pupil numbers. Further to this, the current teaching arrangements at Dalmally Primary would cover the anticipated increase in pupil numbers without the need for increased staffing costs. 9.4 Pupils also identified the possibility of additional transport costs for families making placing requests to Crianlarich Primary. The cost of transport to catchment area schools would be met by the Council. Therefore, families of pupils attending Dalmally Primary from the Bridge of Orchy area would not be at a financial disadvantage due to transport costs. There would be additional transport costs to consider for families choosing to make placing requests to schools outwith their catchment area. However, the responsibility to pay for any transport costs is a factor that all families generally bear when they make placing requests to schools outwith their catchment area. 9.5 Having considered the points raised by pupils, the Education Service are of the view that implementation of the Proposal would also provide much needed clarity
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in relation to the catchment area schools for families residing in the former Bridge of Orchy Primary catchment area, as officers consider the present position to lack sufficient clarity. 10. EDUCATION SCOTLAND REPORT 10.1 In accordance with Section 8(2) of the 2010 Act, Education Scotland produced a report on the educational aspects of the Proposal. 10.2 In preparing their report, Education Scotland considered all relevant documentation in relation to the Proposal, specifically the educational benefits statement and related consultation documents. They also visited Dalmally Primary School and Crianlarich Primary School to seek the views of relevant consultees. A representative of Education Scotland was present at the Public Meeting on 17th September 2024 at Dalmally Primary School. 10.3 The Education Scotland report is attached in full at Appendix 5. 10.4 The Education Scotland report is supportive of the Proposal to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School, and its conclusions can be summarised as follows: a) HM Inspectors agree with the educational benefits outlined by Argyll and Bute Council. b) Dalmally Primary School has the capacity to accommodate the projected increased numbers. c) Children at Dalmally Primary School are enthusiastic to have new peers to play and learn with. d) HM Inspectors suggest Argyll and Bute Council works closely with Stirling Council to address concerns of parents regarding the impact of this Proposal on disadvantaged families living in the Bridge of Orchy area, the importance of parental choice and additional travel time for children. 11. EDUCATION AUTHORITY RESPONSE TO EDUCATION SCOTLAND REPORT 11.1 The Education Service welcomes the report from Education Scotland and agrees with its findings. 11.2 The Education Service’s response to the findings contained within the Education Scotland Report is as follows: 11.3 (a) HM Inspectors agree with the educational benefits outlined by Argyll and Bute Council 11.3.1 Officers are pleased to note that Education Scotland agrees with the anticipated educational benefits of the Proposal being implemented for pupils attending Dalmally Primary School, which includes:
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• Increased opportunities for personal and social development; • Additions to the diversity, strength and vibrancy of the school; and • The potential to ensure a stable school roll. 11.4 (b) Dalmally Primary School has the capacity to accommodate the projected increased numbers 11.4.1 Dalmally Primary School currently has a school roll of 21, with a capacity of 99. Therefore, significant growth in pupil numbers at the school can be maintained within the current school capacity. 11.5 (c) Children at Dalmally Primary School are enthusiastic to have new peers to play and learn with 11.5.1 This finding reflects the consultation feedback that the Education Service gathered, via the pupil focus groups, whereby pupils engaged in Dalmally Primary School were very welcoming of additional pupils joining their school community, and saw a benefit of having more friends to play and learn with. 11.6 (d) HM Inspectors suggest Argyll and Bute Council works closely with Stirling Council to address concerns of parents regarding the impact of this Proposal on disadvantaged families living in the Bridge of Orchy area, the importance of parental choice and additional travel time for children 11.6.1 Parents from the Bridge of Orchy area with children attending Crianlarich Primary School, who engaged with Education Scotland, raised concerns regarding the cost of transport in regard to any possible disadvantaged families living in the Bridge of Orchy catchment area. Should the Proposal be agreed, the cost of transport to the pupils’ catchment area school, namely Dalmally Primary School, would continue to be met by the Council. This is consistent with the general position across Scotland – whereby the Education Authority meets any transport costs for attendance at the catchment area school; and families bear the responsibility for transport in the case of a placing request. 11.6.2 Parents, from the Bridge of Orchy area with children attending Crianlarich Primary School, who engaged with Education Scotland, identified they want to continue to have a choice of school to send their child(ren) to. The only catchment areas within Argyll and Bute which have more than one choice of catchment area school are those which include the catchment area of a denominational school. The Bridge of Orchy area already falls under the catchment area for St. Columba’s Primary School. Otherwise, it is generally the case that there should be one non-denominational primary school for each catchment area. Implementation of the Proposal would allow that to be the case for the Bridge of Orchy area, which officers suggest is a much clearer statement of the Authority’s arrangements for the automatic placing of pupils in the Council’s area.
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11.6.3 Notwithstanding the above, Parents have a legal right (in terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980) to submit a placing request to any school other than their catchment area school, should they so choose. In such a case, any transport costs associated with attendance at a non- catchment area school would generally be covered by the parents. Feedback from early engagement with Stirling Council noted that historically, pupils from Bridge of Orchy the Bridge of Orchy area attended Crianlarich Primary School by way of placing requests. Stirling Council indicated that they would be happy to continue considering placing requests from families residing in the Bridge of Orchy area, but no funding is available for them to provide school transport in relation to those requests. 11.6.4 Moreover, the catchment area secondary school for the Bridge of Orchy area continues to be Oban High School. Accordingly, if the Proposal were to be implemented, then the automatic placing arrangements would provide a greater degree of continuity, in terms of peer group, at this key transition stage for pupils attending Dalmally Primary School. Further to this, nursery provision is also available at Dalmally Primary School - ensuring a continuity of transition across all key stages. 11.6.5 Parents from the Bridge of Orchy area with children attending Crianlarich Primary School, who engaged with Education Scotland, were concerned about longer travel times for pupils from the Bridge of Orchy area to Dalmally Primary School. Currently, pupils travelling to Crianlarich Primary School from the Bridge of Orchy area would pass through Tyndrum. Google Maps shows a difference of approximately 10 minutes in travel time between Tyndrum and Crianlarich Primary School, and Tyndrum and Dalmally Primary School. An additional 10 minutes of travel time to Dalmally Primary School is not considered by officers as being significantly consequential. 11.7 In addition to the above key findings of Education Scotland’s report, the Education Service also noted that staff, parents and pupils – who engaged with Education Scotland – indicated that the school roll at Crianlarich Primary School could reduce if the Proposal is implemented. The Education Service accept that this could be an unintended consequence of implementation of the Proposal. However, it may also be worth noting that Stirling Council’s Children and Young People Committee, at its meeting on 26th September 2024, approved a proposal to permanently close Crianlarich Nursery, with effect from August 2025. This decision may therefore point to an already naturally falling school roll at Crianlarich Primary School.
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12. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 9(1) OF THE SCHOOLS (CONSULTATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 12.1 After the consultation process concluded and the Education Service received Education Scotland’s report, officers carried out a further review of the Proposal, having regard (in particular) to: a) Representations made by the pupil focus groups; and b) Education Scotland’s report. 12.2 The Education Authority has listened carefully to the points made by the focus groups, and have considered equally carefully the stakeholder views as reflected within the Education Scotland report. The Proposal was reviewed to consider whether any of the representations made led the Education Service to reconsider the Proposal. None of the representations led officers to conclude that there are any viable alternatives to implementation of the Proposal. 12.3 In considering the stakeholder representations made through pupil focus groups and the Education Scotland report, officers continue to be of the view that implementation of the Proposal will realise the following benefits: • A clearer position regarding school catchment areas for Argyll and Bute Council and the automatic placing of pupils residing within the Bridge of Orchy area. • A continuity of provision for pupils from nursery, through primary school and into secondary school • The educational benefits of increased opportunities for personal and social development, securing the diversity, strength and vibrancy of the school and the potential to ensure a stable school roll at Dalmally Primary School. 12.4 Based on the above, officers consider that the benefits of the Proposal outweigh the possible disadvantage of any impact on the school roll at Crianlarich Primary School. As such, officers have concluded that there is no cause to reconsider the Proposal based on all of the evidence available. 12.5 The Educational Benefits Statement was also reviewed by officers in respect of the pupil focus group feedback, the Education Scotland report and representations made therein. There were no factors included in the Education Scotland report or other representations made requiring any aspect of the Educational Benefits Statement to be reconsidered. Having reviewed the Education Scotland report and feedback from consultees, the Council has concluded that implementation of the Proposal continues to be the most appropriate response to the underlying reasons for formulating it. 13. ALLEGED OMISSIONS OR INACCURACIES 13.1 Section 10(3) of the 2010 Act places a requirement on the Council to provide details of any inaccuracy or omission in the Proposal Paper which has either been identified by the Council or raised by consultees. This provision also
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requires the Council to provide a statement on the action taken in respect of the inaccuracy or omission, or if no action was taken, to state that fact and why. 13.2 In the course of the statutory consultation, there were no areas identified by the respondents or the Council as being inaccurate or omitted from the Proposal Paper. 13.3 In the course of the statutory consultation, it was identified by officers of the Council that the Summary Proposal document, distributed to the relevant consultees and published on the Council’s website on 26th August 2024, contained a typographical error in terms of the anticipated implementation date for the Proposal. It stated an implementation date of 6th March 2024 instead of 6th March 2025. Officers noticed this error in the Summary Proposal shortly thereafter, and a corrected Summary Proposal was distributed to the relevant consultees, and published on the Council’s website, on 28th August 2024. 13.4 The above typographical error within the Summary Proposal was noticed by officers early on in the consultation period, and was corrected immediately. Also, the implementation date as stated within the Proposal Paper itself was always correct. As such, officers took the view that the error, as outlined above, did not prejudice the ability of any consultee to meaningfully engage with the consultation exercise, nor was it an error within the Proposal Paper itself. Accordingly, officers reached the view that no further action was necessary in terms of Section 5 of the 2010 Act. 13.5 The Education Service would also like to highlight that data relating to pupil numbers are by their nature fluid, were accurate at the time of writing, and have been reviewed as this process progressed. 14. CONCLUSION 14.1 It is proposed that the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School is extended to include the whole catchment area of the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School. 15. RECOMMENDATION 15.1 On the basis of the report by Education Scotland, taking into account the educational benefits for the children involved and the absence of written or oral representations on the Proposal (other than the views expressed at the pupil focus groups); it is recommended that the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School be rezoned so that it is extended to include the whole catchment area of the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School, with effect from 6th March 2025.
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Appendix 1 – Proposal Paper Education Service PROPOSAL PAPER We are looking for your views on a Proposal to re-zone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School Closing date for written responses: 4th October 2024 A public meeting will be held on: 17th September 2024 in Dalmally Primary School at 6:00pm This document has been issued by Argyll and Bute Council for consultation under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. If you need this information in another language or format, please contact us to discuss how we can best meet your needs. Phone: 01369 708576 Email: argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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CONTENTS 1. The Proposal and Consultation Process 2. Implementation Date for the Proposal 3. Background to the Proposal and Overview of School Roll Data 4. Educational Benefits Statement 5. Assessing the impact on the local community affected by this Proposal 6. Employee Implications 7. Other Implications 8. Conclusion 9. Responding to the consultation Appendices: Appendix 1 Distribution List Appendix 2 Map of Current Boundary and Proposed Boundary Appendix 3 Map of Previous Bridge of Orchy Primary School Catchment Area Appendix 4 Map of Crianlarich Primary School Catchment Area Appendix 5 School Roll Data Appendix 6 Consultation Response Form
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1.0 THE PROPOSAL AND CONSULTATION PROCESS 1.1 The Proposal being consulted on is as follows: “To re-zone the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School so that it is extended to include the whole catchment area of the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School.” 1.2 Decision to Undertake the Consultation The Education Service has reviewed the historic decisions in relation to the closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary School in 2004. In particular, the decision taken at that time in respect of its catchment area – namely, that families in that area were given the option for pupils to attend either Dalmally Primary School or Crianlarich Primary School (which is situated within the local authority area of Stirling Council). Following a recent review, Argyll and Bute Council’s Education Service has identified a number of potential issues with the present arrangement, which in effect can automatically place pupils in a school outwith the Education Authority’s area. Argyll and Bute Council are therefore conducting a consultation exercise on the Proposal to re-align the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School to subsume the entire previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary school. 1.3 Consultation on the Proposal Under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act), if a local authority proposes to alter the catchment area of a school, it must undertake a statutory consultation with the ‘relevant consultees’ affected by the Proposal. In this instance: • Dalmally Primary School; and • Crianlarich Primary School are the ‘affected schools’. The formal consultation on the Proposal within this document will be undertaken under the terms of the 2010 Act. The consultation period will start on 26th August 2024 (with due written notice of the Proposal issued to the relevant consultees listed in Appendix 1) and end on 4th October 2024. Written representations must be received by the close of business on the closing date in order to be taken into account. 1.4 Public Meeting A public Meeting will be held on 17th September 2024 at 18:00 in Dalmally Primary School to discuss the Proposal. Anyone wishing to attend the public meeting is invited to do so. The meeting will provide those in attendance with an opportunity to:
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• Hear about the Proposal; • Ask questions about the Proposal, and • Express views about the Proposal. A note will be taken of any views expressed and/or questions asked at the public meeting so that they can be taken into account as part of the consultation process. In addition to the public meeting, written representations will be able to be made during the consultation period. A copy of the Consultation Response Form can be found at Appendix 6. 1.5 Pupil Views Pupils at the affected schools will be invited to comment during the consultation process, through a session facilitated by a Council Officer, ensuring that they have an opportunity to contribute their views. 1.6 Education Scotland (HM Inspectorate of Education, HMIe) At the start of the consultation period, the Council will provide Education Scotland with this Proposal Paper. When the consultation period has ended, the Council will collate all of the written and oral representations. Thereafter, this information will be provided to Education Scotland and include; • A copy of written representations made to the Council on the Proposal (or summary of them if agreed with Education Scotland); • A summary of oral representations made at the public meeting, and • Other relevant documentation, so far as is practicable. Education Scotland will prepare a report on the educational aspects of the Proposal taking account of the above, and in so far that Education Scotland considers them relevant, any written representations made directly to them. Education Scotland may also visit the schools affected by the Proposal and make any other enquiries as they consider appropriate. Education Scotland require to send their report to the Council no later than three weeks (or longer if agreed with the Council) after having received the information from the Council. 1.7 Consultation Report After receiving Education Scotland’s report, the Council will review the Proposal taking account of written representations received during the consultation period, oral representations made during the public meeting and Education Scotland’s report. The Council will then prepare and publish a Consultation Report which will include a recommendation on the Proposal and make it available for inspection. The Consultation Report will be published no later than three weeks before it is formally considered by the Council.
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1.8 Inaccuracies or Omissions Where any inaccuracies or omissions are discovered within this Proposal Paper, the Council will determine whether relevant information has been omitted or, if there has been an inaccuracy. Appropriate action will then be taken by the Council, which may include issuing corrections, re-issuing a corrected Proposal Paper or an extension of the consultation period. In any of these events, all of the Relevant Consultees (and where applicable the notifier(s) of any omissions or inaccuracies) and Education Scotland will be advised of the action that is taken. 2.0 IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The proposal, if accepted, would be implemented from 6th March 2025. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 Dalmally Primary School is a co-educational, non-denominational school serving the villages of Dalmally and Loch Awe along with the surrounding area. The School, built in 1975, is situated in the Glenview housing scheme in Dalmally. The School and its nursery unit cater for children from the age of 3 through to 12 years. The current school roll is 24 as per the table below. Historic and projected school roll data can be viewed in Appendix 5. Dalmally Primary School P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Grand Total 1 1 3 3 6 4 6 24 3.2 On 6th May 2004 the Strategic Policy Committee (Education) of Argyll and Bute Council considered the Bridge of Orchy Primary School Consultative Document. The decision was taken that the submitted report be issued as a consultation document and circulated to all parties in terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981. A further report by the Director on the results of the consultative process was to be prepared for a future meeting of the Committee. 3.3 On 15th July 2004 the Strategic Policy Committee (Education) met to consider the findings of that consultation exercise. The Committee recommended to the Council the permanent closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary School. 3.4 Later that day (on 15th July 2004) a meeting of the full Council considered the above recommendation of the Strategic Policy Committee (Education). The Council agreed to the permanent closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary school
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with pupils residing within the Bridge of Orchy catchment area to be re-zoned to a choice between either Dalmally or Crianlarich Primary Schools.2 3.5 Following a recent review, the Education Service has identified a number of potential issues with the Council’s earlier decision (in 2004) which effectively makes arrangements to place pupils in a school outwith the Argyll and Bute area, if families were to choose Crianlarich Primary School over Dalmally Primary School. Whilst that arrangement was agreed with Stirling Council at the time, a number of concerns have been identified by the Education Service as to how sustainable such an arrangement could be in the future, as well as concerns about how such an arrangement could be managed and fulfilled. In order to rectify this historic issue, the Council is now undertaking a consultation exercise on the Proposal to re-align the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School to subsume the entire previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary school. 3.6 In the development of all proposals to re-align catchment areas, the Council must have due regard to its specific statutory duties as laid out in the 2010 Act, as amended. 3.7 The existing catchment area of Dalmally Primary School is shown in Appendix 2 and the previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary School is shown in Appendix 3. 3.8 The decision by the Council, following the closure of Bridge of Orchy Primary School in 2004, allowed for families living within the Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area to choose to send children to either Dalmally Primary School or Crianlarich Primary School – which is in the Stirling Council area. The catchment area of Crianlarich Primary School is shown in Appendix 4. 3.9 The Education Service considers that its broad arrangements should be such that all pupils living within the Argyll and Bute Council area should generally be placed within Argyll and Bute Council schools. Argyll and Bute Council is not generally empowered to make arrangements which place pupils in schools outwith the local authority area as their catchment area schools. The current catchment area split/choice for those families within the previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary School is a historic boundary legacy. It was agreed with Stirling Council at the time, but could raise issues for the Education Authority going forward if the circumstances of Crianlarich Primary School are to change. It is the intention of the Education Service that all new pupils living within previous Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area should be automatically zoned to Dalmally Primary School, therefore rectifying the historic catchment area anomaly arising from the 2004 decision. 2 A typographical error in the minute of the decision of this meeting reports pupils attending Crianlarich Primary School instead of the agreed parental choice between Crianlarich or Dalmally Primary Schools.
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3.10 Notwithstanding the above, under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, parents have a statutory right to make a placing request for any educational establishment. Therefore, families within the previous Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area would still be able to apply for a placing request within any school other than their catchment area school – including Crianlarich Primary School – if this Proposal were to be implemented. 3.11 The school roll of the affected schools, as per May 2024, is detailed in the table below; and historical and projected school roll data is available in Appendix 5: School P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Grand Total Dalmally Primary School 1 1 3 3 6 4 6 24 Crianlarich Primary School 2 6 2 3 6 3 1 23 4.0 EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS STATEMENT – ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSAL 4.1 Benefits for Present Pupils at Dalmally Primary School Should the catchment area be re-zoned, there may be benefits for current pupils such as additional opportunities for personal and social development through an increased roll. From a curricular perspective, there would be no particular changes; however, an increased school roll may well bring additional opportunities for children to develop socially and emotionally, particularly in developing them as confident individuals. 4.2 Benefits for Future Pupils of Dalmally Primary School If the catchment area was re-zoned, it would mean that all pupils living in the previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary School would generally attend Dalmally Primary School. From a curricular perspective there would be no particular changes, however an increased school roll may well bring additional opportunities for children to develop socially and emotionally, particularly in developing as confident individuals. It is proposed that the pupils at Dalmally Primary School could potentially benefit from an increased number of prospective pupils at the School – thereby adding to the diversity, strength and vibrancy of the school community. If this Proposal was to be implemented, there could be a positive effect on children who currently attend Dalmally Primary School, as well as prospective pupils.
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4.3 Effects on Other Users of the School’s Facilities Effects on any other users of the School’s facilities would be negligible. 4.4 Effects on Pupils of Crianlarich Primary School Currently, families with children who live in the proposed rezoning area are able to choose for their children to attend either Dalmally Primary School or Crianlarich Primary School, with the cost of transport being met by Argyll and Bute Council. If the Proposal was to be implemented, then the children of families who reside in the previous Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area, who are new to the area or have children starting Primary 1, would generally attend Dalmally Primary School. Families residing in the previous Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area would still have their statutory right to apply for a placing request to Crianlarich Primary School. However, as with all placing requests, the cost of transport would be met by the family, not the Local Authority. For those families currently residing in the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area, with children already attending Crianlarich Primary School, their current school transport provision arrangements would be honoured through to those pupils completing Primary 7. If this Proposal was implemented, all pupils who reside in the proposed rezoning area (and not already enrolled at Crianlarich Primary School) would fall within the new extended catchment area for Dalmally Primary school. 4.5 Implications for Pupils if the Proposal was not Implemented If this Proposal is not implemented, the children who currently live in the rezoning area and who may move into the rezoning area would continue to have the choice of attending either an Argyll and Bute primary school or a Stirling Council primary school. This has an implication on the cost of transport to Argyll and Bute Council in transporting pupils to a school in another local authority area. Additionally, should the school roll at Crianlarich Primary School increase to a point where the school was at capacity, the present agreement for Argyll and Bute pupils attending Crianlarich Primary School could be unsustainable as Argyll and Bute Council are not empowered to generally place pupils in a school outwith their Authority area. Pupils living within the previous catchment area for Bridge of Orchy Primary School generally attend secondary school at Oban High School. This may mean pupils attending Crianlarich Primary School would start High School with a different peer group as pupils residing in the constituted catchment area for Crianlarich Primary School, who generally attend Wallace High School. School roll data for Crianlarich Primary School, as detailed in Appendix 5, shows a relatively stable trend of between 22 and 25 pupils from 2017/18 to 2026/27 with a lower projected school roll of 19 or 20 from 2027/28.
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5.0 ASSESSING THE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSAL 5.1 There may be implications for the local communities of the affected schools. Potentially, children who live in the rezoning area who may have chosen to enrol at Crianlarich Primary School, would attend Dalmally Primary School. This may lead to a reduction in school roll for Crianlarich Primary School. Currently the school roll at Crianlarich Primary School is 23 with historic numbers of pupils at Crianlarich Primary school not being less than 21. Therefore, the proposed change in catchment area is not projected to have a significant impact on the school roll. A reduction in the school roll could have an impact on the ethos of the school and its community. Conversely, there are a number of potential positive impacts for Dalmally Primary School, should their school roll rise as a result of an increased/clarified catchment area, given the School has ample capacity for additional pupils. An increased school roll could positively affect the School ethos with a larger number of pupils for social groupings, class group work and even school plays and events. Dalmally Primary School is active within the local community and the potential of having additional pupils on the school roll could strengthen the viability of community and school events. 6.0 EMPLOYEE IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Staffing arrangements will continue to be consistent with the Argyll and Bute Council Staffing Standards and other local arrangements. 6.2 The projected school roll for Dalmally Primary School, taking in consideration of historical numbers of pupils in the rezoned area, does not show a significant impact for overall staffing at the School. However if families with a large number of children move into the rezoned area, this may have an impact on staffing. If the school roll of Dalmally Primary School increases, it may require more staff, and if Crianlarich Primary School sustains a corresponding drop in their school roll, they may require reviewing their staffing arrangements. The Education Authority do not anticipate the numbers of pupils involved as a result of this proposed catchment extension to materially affect either school in the short to medium term. 7.0 OTHER IMPLICATIONS 7.1 There will most likely be decreased transport costs for the Council in the long term, should this Proposal be implemented. 8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 This is a Proposal to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School to subsume the whole of the previous catchment area for Bridge of Orchy Primary School, following a review of the historic catchment area decision of the Council in 2004. The matter is being considered by way of a statutory consultation exercise in accordance with the 2010 Act. There are currently six pupils who attend Crianlarich Primary School and live within the Bridge of Orchy catchment
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area - who would remain unaffected for the remainder of their time at primary school. This Proposal, if implemented, would encompass any new families moving to the area, or younger children attaining school age. There may be future implications in terms of staffing and transport costs should there be an increase in the school roll of Dalmally Primary School as a result of implementation of this Proposal. 9.0 RESPONDING TO THE CONSULTATION 9.1 Interested parties are invited to respond to the consultation exercise by making written or electronic submissions on the Proposal, using the form at Appendix 6, by no later than close of business on 4th October 2024. Responses can be posted to: Argyll and Bute Council Customer Services: Education Argyll House Alexandra Parade Dunoon, PA23 8AJ Or emailed to: argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk 9.2 Those submitting a response, whether by letter or electronically, should be aware that their response will be published as part of the Council’s final Consultation Report. 9.3 If they do not wish their response to be publicly available, they should clearly indicate on the document by ticking the box which states: “I wish my response to be considered as confidential with access restricted to elected members and officers of Argyll and Bute Council.” Otherwise, it will be assumed that the respondent agrees to their response being made publicly available.
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Appendix 1 – Distribution List Distribution list and how to access a copy of the proposal document A Summary of this Proposal (including details of where/how to access the full Proposal Paper) will be provided to the following ‘Relevant Consultees’ in terms of the Act: • The Parent Councils of the affected schools; • The parents of the pupils at the affected schools; • All Early Years Establishments in the local area of the affected schools, giving access to parents who have children expected to attend the affected schools within two years of the publication of this Proposal Paper; • The pupils at the affected schools (in so far as the Education Authority considers them to be of suitable age and maturity); • All employees at the affected schools; • Trade union representatives of employees at the affected schools; • Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council; • Strathfillan Community Council; • All relevant users of the affected schools; • Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership; • Stirling Community Planning Partnership; and • Stirling Council Education Service A Summary of this Proposal (including details of where/how to access the full Proposal Paper) will also be made available to: • Argyll and Bute Councillors for Ward 5 – Oban North and Lorn; • Stirling Councillors for Trossachs and Teith Ward • The Constituency MSPs for the areas of the affected schools; • List MSPs for the areas of the affected schools; • The MPs for the areas of the affected schools; • Argyll and Bute Council School Transport Team; The steps listed below have also been taken to ensure that the proposal is widely available: • This Proposal Paper will be published on the Argyll and Bute Council website; • This document can be made available in alternative forms or translated by contacting Argyll House, Dunoon, telephone: 01369 708576 or argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk; • Hard copies of this Proposal Paper will also be available for inspection, free of charge, at the following locations: a) Council Headquarters – Kilmory, Lochgilphead b) Dalmally Primary School c) Crianlarich Primary School
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Appendix 2 – Map of Current Boundary and Proposed Boundary
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Appendix 3 - Map of Previous Bridge of Orchy Primary School Catchment Area
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Appendix 4 - Map of Crianlarich Primary School Catchment Area
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Appendix 5 – School Roll Data School Roll Data Dalmally PS Crianlarich PS Capacity 99 50 School Roll School Roll 2014-15 38 34 2015-16 37 23 2016-17 35 27 2017-18 38 23 2018-19 35 22 2019-20 31 22 2020-21 29 23 2021-22 37 21 2022-23 30 23 2023-24 24 23 * Historical roll figures taken from Census of each year. Predicted Roll Dalmally PS Crianlarich PS Capacity 99 50 School Roll School Roll 2024-25 21 25 2025-26 20 23 2026-27 21 22 2027-28 19 19 2028-29 21 20 2029-2030 24 19 2030-31 27 19 * projected school roll data for Dalmally Primary takes into account projected pupil numbers including those from Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area.
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Appendix 6 – Response Form CONSULTATION RESPONSE FORM Education Service Please use this form to let us know what you think about the proposal You can complete this feedback form in Adobe Acrobat and print it out, or print and complete it by hand, using block capital letters. Return the form to: Customer Services: Education, Argyll House, Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, PA23 8AJ Or as an e-mail to argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk. The closing date for comments is 4th October 2024. Proposal Argyll and Bute Council is seeking the views on the following proposal, namely: • To rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School to include the whole of the previous catchment area of Bridge of Orchy Primary School. If you do not wish your response to be publicly available, you must tick the box below. Otherwise, it will be assumed that you agree to your response being made publicly available. “I wish my response to be considered as confidential with access restricted to elected members and council officers of Argyll and Bute Council.” Name Address I agree with the proposal(please tick) Yes No Undecided If you wish to comment on the proposal please use the space below, or attach another sheet
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I am responding in my capacity as a (please indicate by ticking the appropriate box) Parent/ carer of child at Dalmally Primary School Trade Union Parent/ carer of child at affected primary school (Crianlarich Primary School) Elected representative Pupil Community Council Dalmally PS Parent Council Member of the public/ community Crianlarich PS Parent Council Member of staff Other Details: _________________________ Handling your response - Please note that: • We will use the information you provide for the purpose(s) of this consultation, including statistical and analytical purposes; • We will pass a full copy of your written response to Education Scotland or a summary of it of agreed with them; and • We are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and therefore would have to consider any request made under that Act for information relating to written responses/ records of oral representations made to us relating to this consultation. Electronic publication and additional copies This consultation, and all other consultation exercises, can be viewed online on the consultation web pages of the Council website at: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/consultations Public internet can be accessed at your local library. Thank you for taking time to respond.
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Appendix 2 – Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Argyll and Bute Council: Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Section 1: About the proposal Title of Proposal Dalmally Primary School Consultation Report Intended outcome of proposal The report is to outline the outcome relating to the Proposal to extend the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School to include the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area. The Proposal is to rezone the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School so that it is extended to include the whole catchment area of the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School. Through the consultation process, as outlined in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, the views of all stakeholders affected by this proposal have been sought. Local Authority Officers are preparing a Consultation Report on the issue, with input from Education Scotland. This report will be presented to the Community Services Committee (CSC) for their decision on 6th March 2025. If after consultation the stakeholders involved in the process, Education Scotland, and ultimately the CSC feel that rezoning of the catchment area is not the most reasonable option, then the Proposal would not be implemented..
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Description of proposal Consideration of this proposal means that a decision is being taken to permanently change the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School. Historic decisions made when Bridge of Orchy Primary School was closed in 2004 meant pupils living in the Bridge of Orchy Primary School catchment area could choose to attend Crianlarich Primary or Dalmally Primary School. This has meant some pupils living in Argyll and Bute have attended a school outwith the Education Authority’s area as their catchment area school. As per the legislative requirements as set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, Argyll and Bute Council has sought stakeholder views on the following proposal, namely: It is proposed that the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School is re-zoned so that it is extended to include the whole catchment area of the former Bridge of Orchy Primary School from 6th March 2025. The catchment area school for pupils living in the former Bridge of Orchy catchment area, registering for a school placement from 6th March 2025 would be Dalmally Primary School. Pupils from the Bridge of Orchy catchment area currently being educated at Crianlarich Primary School would have school transport honoured until Primary 7 if they so choose. Reasons for this proposal On 22nd August 2024, Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee agreed that a statutory consultation with all relevant stakeholders be undertaken on the Proposal as outlined in the 2010 Act. This statutory consultation opened on 26th August 2024 and concluded on 4th October 2024. A public meeting was also arranged for 17th September 2024 in Dalmally Primary School. Business Outcome(s) / Corporate Outcome(s) to which the proposal contributes Community Wellbeing - Enabling a voice in collective decision making Lead officer details: Name of lead officer Simone McAdam Job title Education Manager Department Education Appropriate officer details: Name of appropriate officer Wendy Brownlie Job title Head of Education – Performance and Improvement Department Community Services - Education Sign off of EqSEIA Date of sign off 04/12/24
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Who will deliver the proposal? Should the change in catchment area for Dalmally Primary School go ahead, there will be little change to the current arrangements that have been in place since Bridge of Orchy Primary School was closed in 2004. Pupils from the Bridge of Orchy area currently attending Crianlarich Primary will be able to do so until Primary 7 should they choose, with school transport being met by Argyll and Bute. The change in catchment area for Dalmally Primary School will affect any new families moving into the Bridge of Orchy catchment area or any families registering a Primary 1 child after 6th March 2025. The Head Teacher of Dalmally Primary School will be the senior officer of the Council who provides the leadership of the educational experience for the children attending the school. The Education Central team of the Council will be responsible for the support and challenge of the school as per standard protocols. Transport colleagues will be responsible for any travel arrangements for children who are entitled to this after March 6th 2025 should the decision to change the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School be agreed. Section 2: Evidence used in the course of carrying out EqSEIA Consultation / engagement
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Under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, if a local authority proposes to alter a school’s catchment area it must undertake a statutory consultation with the ‘relevant consultees’ affected by this proposal. In this instance; Dalmally Primary School and Crianlarich Primary School are the ‘affected schools’. The formal statutory consultation on the Proposal was undertaken under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the Act”). The consultation period was open from 26th August 2024 to 4th October 2024. A summary of the Proposal was made available to the following “relevant consultees” in terms of the 2010 Act: • The Parent Councils of the affected schools; • The parents of the pupils at the affected schools; • All Early Years Establishments in the local area of the affected schools, giving access to parents who have children expected to attend the affected schools within two years of the publication of the Proposal Paper; • The pupils at the affected schools (in so far as the Education Authority considers them to be of suitable age and maturity); • All employees at the affected schools; • Trade union representatives of employees at the affected schools; • Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council; • Strathfillan Community Council; • All relevant users of the affected schools; • Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership; • Stirling Community Planning Partnership; and • Stirling Council Education Service A Summary of the Proposal (including details of where/how to access the full Proposal Paper) was also made available to: • Argyll and Bute Councillors for Ward 5 – Oban North and Lorn; • Stirling Councillors for Trossachs and Teith Ward • The Constituency MSPs for the areas of the affected schools; • List MSPs for the areas of the affected schools; • The MPs for the areas of the affected schools; • Argyll and Bute Council School Transport Team; The Proposal Paper was also available at the following locations: • Published on the Argyll and Bute Council website; • Available in alternative forms or translated through Argyll House, Dunoon, telephone: 01369 708576 or argyllhousereception@argyll-bute.gov.uk; • Hard copies of this Proposal Paper was also available for inspection, free of charge, at the following locations: d) Council Headquarters – Kilmory, Lochgilphead e) Dalmally Primary School f) Crianlarich Primary School The statutory consultation had zero written responses received via email or post. The public meeting arranged for 17th September 2024 had zero attendees.
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Data The catchment area for Dalmally Primary School is classed as remote rural. The definition for remote rural are settlements with a population of less than 3,000 with a greater than 30 minute drive time to the nearest settlement with a population of 10,000 or more. National statistics detail a reducing and aging population for Argyll and Bute. The National Records of Scotland details a reducing population in Argyll and Bute as per the diagram below. Data gathered shows a 2.4 percentage point reduction in population in Argyll and Bute. Population records held by National Records of Scotland show an ageing population in Argyll and Bute with an increase to population groups above 45 years with a reduction to population in age groups below 45. Source information: Scotland's Population 2022 - The Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk) Population Estimates of Scotland - National Records of Scotland (shinyapps.io)
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Other information Evidence was found in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, in terms of legislative compliance. Education management circulars, 1.33 on capacity, 3.01 on admission and 3.09 on transfers were also consulted. The circular 3.23 on child protection and safeguarding was also considered. The national policy of GIRFEC – Getting it Right for Every Child, and the newly incorporated United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child were also considered in the formation of this proposal, as was the Argyll and Bute Education vision and strategy, Our Children, Their Future. Gaps in evidence There are no gaps in evidence. Section 3: Impact of proposal Impact on service users: Negative No impact Positive Don’t know Protected characteristics: Age X Disability X Ethnicity X Sex X Gender reassignment X Marriage and Civil Partnership X Pregnancy and Maternity X Religion X Sexual Orientation X Fairer Scotland Duty: Mainland rural population X Island populations X Low income X Low wealth X Material deprivation X Area deprivation X Socio-economic background X Communities of place X Communities of interest X If you have identified any impacts on service users, explain what these will be. If any ‘don’t knows have been identified, at what point will impacts on these groups become identifiable?
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If the proposal is accepted, there will be no immediate impact on pupils and families, as children currently attending either Dalmally Primary or Crianlarich Primary will continue to do so with current arrangements and school transport would continuing. There may be families who move into the revised catchment area, or are registering a Primary 1 child after 6th March 2025 who would then require school transport. The Education Management team will use their existing quality assurance procedures to monitor the education provided in the school. Impact on service deliverers (including employees, volunteers etc): Negative No impact Positive Don’t know Protected characteristics: Age X Disability X Ethnicity X Sex X Gender reassignment X Marriage and Civil Partnership X Pregnancy and Maternity X Religion X Sexual Orientation X Fairer Scotland Duty: Mainland rural population X Island populations X Low income X Low wealth X Material deprivation X Area deprivation X Socio-economic background X Communities of place X Communities of interest X If you have identified any impacts on service deliverers, explain what these will be. If any ‘don’t knows have been identified, at what point will impacts on these groups become identifiable? How has ‘due regard’ been given to any negative impacts that have been identified?
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In looking at the educational benefits statement of this Proposal these have been considered. All information is contained in the Proposal paper and subsequent Consultation paper. Section 4: Interdependencies Is this proposal likely to have any knock-on effects for any other activities carried out by or on behalf of the council? Potentially on school transport, as more children may move into the new catchment area or are registered in Primary 1 after 6th March 2025. Details of knock-on effects identified Increased number of children requesting free school transport may add pressure to the transport system. Section 5: Monitoring and review How will you monitor and evaluate the equality impacts of your proposal? The Education Central Team including locality Education Managers will monitor the impact this catchment area change would have, if implemented.
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Appendix 3 – Note of public meeting Dalmally Primary School Consultation - Public Meeting Held in Dalmally Primary School on 17th September 2024 at 6pm Panel Douglas Hendry, Executive Director with responsibility for Education Councillor Audrey Forrest – Policy Lead for Education Jennifer Crocket, Chief Education Officer/Head of Education - Wellbeing, Inclusion and Achievement Simone McAdam – Education Manager Graeme McMillan – Transformation Programme Manager In attendance Andrea McMillan – Education Scotland Councillor Andrew Vennard – Ward 5 (Oban North and Lorn) Admin: Fiona Ferguson – Directorate Support Officer Laura Blackwood – Directorate Support Officer There were no members of the public in attendance. The meeting was duly convened at the advertised time of 6pm. However, it was noted that there were no members of the public in attendance. After postponing the start time of the meeting until 6.20pm, to leave extra time for any late attendees, it was noted by all present that Ms McMillan from Education Scotland was present in the capacity of an observer. Councillor Vennard also confirmed that he was present as a local councillor, had read the Proposal Paper, and he had no specific questions or feedback to raise in relation to the Proposal being consulted on. Accordingly, all present agreed that, in the circumstances, there was no requirement to continue with the presentation and question session on the proposal, and the meeting was accordingly brought to a close at 6.25pm.
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Appendix 4 – Pupil Focus Group Notes Date of Visit 05/09/2024 School Dalmally Primary School 6 pupils Staff member(s) Leading S. McAdam Background information for pupils I am meeting with you today about a possible change in catchment area for Dalmally Primary School. That is a big word, let us talk about what that means. The school that children go to is decided by which street and sometimes which house they live in. Each school in Argyll and Bute has a zone; the zone is a line on a map, which shows the streets, and houses that are grouped together for a particular school. Argyll and Bute Council want to find out what you think about changing the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School. Bridge of Orchy Primary School closed in 2004 and since then pupils that lived in that zone could go to either Dalmally Primary or Crianlarich Primary. Because Crianlarich Primary School is not in Argyll and Bute, Argyll and Bute council think it is a good idea to make the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School bigger and include the zone for Bridge of Orchy Primary School so that children that live in Argyll and Bute go to Argyll and Bute Schools. What this means is that the council are looking at drawing new lines on the map that shows which areas go to Dalmally Primary School - this is called rezoning. The proposed new zone for Dalmally Primary would include the zone that was for Bridge of Orchy Primary before it closed. They are asking parents, community members, teachers and pupils what they think about this new zone for Dalmally Primary School. • We want to talk with you to find out what you think about the Council’s idea to make the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School bigger. • This process of asking for your views is called a consultation. • This consultation is anonymous – which means your words and ideas may be used in public reports that are written, but your name will not be written with your words and ideas. The Council thinks that a new zone for Dalmally Primary School is a good idea because: • They think pupils who live in Argyll and Bute should be in a catchment area for an Argyll and Bute school. What are the possible positive impacts? • It could mean that more pupils go to Dalmally Primary School. • It means that pupils who live in Argyll and Bute are given an Argyll and Bute school to go to. • Families can still choose a placing request to a different school, so if families wanted their children to go to Crianlarich Primary they could still ask Crianlarich Primary School for this. What are the possible negative impacts? • It could mean that the number of children going to Crianlarich Primary School goes down. • Families that make a placing request would have to pay for bus transport or drive children to the school they ask for that is not the school in their zone.
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It is important that we find out your thoughts and opinions on how your school could be affected by the idea to make this change. So, your views are important, and this will help the council make a decision for the re-zoning of Dalmally Primary School. What do you think the positive things for having a bigger catchment area for Dalmally Primary would be? • It might add more people to the school. • There may be more teachers needed. • It might mean more money for the school. • I’d like more people for more friends. Do you have any concerns about what would happen if Dalmally Primary had a bigger catchment area? • I don’t want more kids at this school. • I used to go to Crianlarich Primary and some things about Crianlarich Primary are better. • People would want to stay with their friends. • If your big brother goes to Crianlarich Primary you might not want to go to a different school. What might other people be concerned about or happy about if Dalmally Primary had a bigger catchment area? • It might cost the council money. • It might be better to let people choose which school to go to. • It might be expensive for parents to travel to Crianlarich Primary. • It might be hard for new pupils to make friends here. Is there anything that interests you or excites you about the proposed change? • Thank you for listening to us. Is there anything you think the Council needs to think about if the proposal was to go ahead? Do you have any other comments about this that you want to add? • If you have more ideas please let your teacher know and they can get in contact with me. • If anything we have chatted about today has made you worried remember you can talk to your class teacher or your parents. • Next steps – the ideas that people tell us are part of a big paper that goes to councillors at a meeting and that information helps them to decide if the catchment area should change.
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Date of Visit 05/09/2024 School Crianlarich PS (6 pupils) Staff member(s) Leading S. McAdam Background information for pupils I am meeting with you today about a possible change in catchment area for Dalmally Primary School. That is a big word, let us talk about what that means. The school that children go to is decided by which street and sometimes which house they live in. Each school in Argyll and Bute has a zone; the zone is a line on a map, which shows the streets, and houses that are grouped together for a particular school. Argyll and Bute Council want to find out what you think about changing the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School. Bridge of Orchy Primary School closed in 2004 and since then pupils that lived in that zone could go to either Dalmally Primary or Crianlarich Primary. Because Crianlarich Primary School is not in Argyll and Bute, Argyll and Bute council think it is a good idea to make the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School bigger and include the zone for Bridge of Orchy Primary School so that children that live in Argyll and Bute go to Argyll and Bute Schools. What this means is that the council are looking at drawing new lines on the map that shows which areas go to Dalmally Primary School - this is called rezoning. The proposed new zone for Dalmally Primary would include the zone that was for Bridge of Orchy Primary before it closed. They are asking parents, community members, teachers and pupils what they think about this new zone for Dalmally Primary School. • We want to talk with you to find out what you think about the Council’s idea to make the catchment area for Dalmally Primary School bigger. • This process of asking for your views is called a consultation. • This consultation is anonymous – which means your words and ideas may be used in public reports that are written, but your name will not be written with your words and ideas. The Council thinks that a new zone for Dalmally Primary School is a good idea because: • They think pupils who live in Argyll and Bute should be in a catchment area for an Argyll and Bute school. What are the possible positive impacts? • It could mean that more pupils go to Dalmally Primary School. • It means that pupils who live in Argyll and Bute are given an Argyll and Bute school to go to. • Families can still choose a placing request to a different school, so if families wanted their children to go to Crianlarich Primary they could still ask Crianlarich Primary School for this. What are the possible negative impacts? • It could mean that the number of children going to Crianlarich Primary School goes down. • Families that make a placing request would have to pay for bus transport or drive children to the school they ask for that is not the school in their zone. It is important that we find out your thoughts and opinions on how your school could be affected by the idea to make this change. So, your views are important,
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and this will help the council make a decision for the re-zoning of Dalmally Primary School. What do you think the positive things for having a bigger catchment area for Dalmally Primary would be? • More kids might go to Dalmally Primary. • Might have to make it bigger. Do you have any concerns about what would happen if Dalmally Primary had a bigger catchment area? • If anyone wants to live in Bridge of Orchy but send their kids to Crianlarich PS they would have to pay for transport, it might make a difference to those making a choice to live there. • Might mean less pupils at Crianlarich PS if more pupils go to Dalmally PS. What might other people be concerned about or happy about if Dalmally Primary had a bigger catchment area? • They might think that maybe too many children will come to their school, they would have to find more staff, and it’s hard to find teachers. Is there anything that interests you or excites you about the proposed change? • It’s nice to be asked what we think. Is there anything you think the Council needs to think about if the proposal was to go ahead? Do you have any other comments about this that you want to add? • I think we should have less playtime and more work. • If you have more ideas please let your teacher know and they can get in contact with me. • If anything we have chatted about today has made you worried remember you can talk to your class teacher or your parents. • Next steps – the ideas that people tell us are part of a big paper that goes to councillors at a meeting and that information helps them to decide if the catchment area should change.
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Appendix 5 – Education Scotland Report Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 Report by Education Scotland addressing educational aspects of the proposal by Argyll and Bute Council to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School. 1. Introduction 1.1 This report from Education Scotland has been prepared by His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HM Inspectors) in accordance with the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”). The purpose of the report is to provide an independent and impartial consideration of a proposal by Argyll and Bute Council to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School. Section 2 of the report sets out brief details of the consultation process. Section 3 of the report sets out HM Inspectors’ consideration of the educational aspects of the proposal, including significant views expressed by consultees. Section 4 summarises HM Inspectors’ view. Upon receipt of this report, the Act requires the council to consider it alongside any relevant considerations the council received and then prepare its consultation report. The council’s consultation report should include this report and must contain an explanation of how, in finalising the proposal, it has reviewed the initial proposal, including a summary of points raised during the consultation process and the council’s response to them. The council has to publish its consultation report at least three weeks before it takes its final decision. With all proposals the council needs to follow all statutory obligations set out in the 2010 Act. 1.2 HM Inspectors considered: • the likely effects of the proposal for children of the school; any other users; children likely to become pupils within two years of the date of publication of the proposal paper; and other children in the council area; • any other likely effects of the proposal; • how the council intends to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from the proposal; and • the educational benefits the council believes will result from implementation of the proposal, and the council’s reasons for coming to these beliefs.
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1.3 In preparing this report, HM Inspectors undertook the following activities: • attendance at the public meeting held on 17 September 2024 in connection with the council’s proposals; • consideration of all relevant documentation provided by the council in relation to the proposal, specifically the educational benefits statement and related consultation documents, written and oral submissions from parents and others and; • visits to the site of Dalmally Primary School and Crianlarich Primary School, including discussion with relevant consultees. 2. Consultation process 2.1 Argyll and Bute Council undertook the consultation on its proposal(s) with reference to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. 2.2 The council conducted a public consultation on the proposal from 26 August to 4 October 2024, in line with statutory requirements. Copies of the proposal document were sent to parents and relevant stakeholders. A public meeting was held at Dalmally Primary School on 17 September 2024, which no members of the public attended. The council received no responses to the proposal through their online platform or by post. Council officers met with children at Dalmally and Crianlarich primary schools to gather their views. At these meetings children were positive about having new children at their school. They stated they want to go to school with their friends and siblings. Children at both schools think that choice is important. Children at Dalmally Primary School were worried that their school would become too large and would need more teachers. Children at Crianlarich Primary School were concerned that there would be less children at their school. They were also concerned about the additional transport costs for parents. 3. Educational aspects of proposal 3.1 The council propose to rezone the catchment area, so that children living in the Bridge of Orchy area will attend Dalmally Primary School. Under the current arrangements, parents can choose Crianlarich Primary School, which is in Stirling Council, or Dalmally Primary School. Dalmally Primary School has a current roll of 26. Crianlarich Primary School roll is 23, six of whom are from Bridge of Orchy. In their proposal, the council have stated that children currently attending Crianlarich Primary School will continue to have their transport costs met. In its statement on the educational benefits of the proposal, the council has highlighted the potential for an increased school roll at Dalmally Primary School. They state that this will bring increased opportunities for personal and social development and add to the diversity, strength and vibrancy of the school. HM Inspectors agree with the educational benefits outlined by the council. The rezoning of the catchment area has the potential to ensure a stable school roll for Dalmally Primary School. The school also has the capacity to accommodate the projected numbers of children who may wish to attend.
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3.2 HM Inspectors met with children, parents and staff at Dalmally and Crianlarich Primary Schools. The majority of children at Dalmally Primary School, who met with HM Inspectors, are in favour of the proposal. They are proud of their school and ready to welcome new children. Children think that it is important that friends can go to school together. A few children do not agree with the proposal. They are concerned that new children will make the school larger. A few children think it is important that they and their parents continue to have a choice about which school they attend. 3.3 Parents who met with HM Inspectors do not agree with the proposal. They want to continue to have a choice of the most appropriate school for their child and for transport costs to be met. In parts of the rezoned area, the journey to Dalmally Primary School is longer than the journey to Crianlarich Primary School, impacting on the length of the child’s day. Parents are also concerned about the impact of this decision on the most disadvantaged in their community. For example, parents who do not have their own transport. Parents feel that their community crosses both council boundaries and would like to see more collaborative working between the two councils. They think this is important to help keep families living in the area. Parents agree that the proposal has the potential to protect the school roll at Dalmally Primary School. However, they do not wish to protect one school at the expense of another. 3.4 Staff at Dalmally Primary School agree with the proposal. They think that a number of families from Bridge of Orchy already attend Dalmally Primary School and the impact of the proposal will be minimal. They are confident that they can accommodate any children who wish to attend. Staff also see the benefit to Dalmally Primary School of a wider catchment area, which has the potential to increase the school roll. They believe that this helps protect resources at the school. However, staff at Crianlarich Primary School are concerned that the proposal may reduce their already small school roll. 4. Summary HM Inspectors agree with the proposal to rezone the catchment area of Dalmally Primary School. Dalmally Primary School has the capacity to accommodate the projected increased numbers. Children are enthusiastic to have new peers to play and learn with. If this proposal is agreed by Argyll and Bute Council, stakeholders would appreciate Argyll and Bute Council working closely with Stirling Council to address their concerns. These include the potential impact on any disadvantaged families living in the Bridge of Orchy area, the importance of choice and the potential additional travel time for children. HM Inspectors October 2024