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Closed education consultations

Find out more about closed consultations:

Merger of Fraserburgh North School and St Andrews School

On 28th September 2023 the council made the decision to close the existing Fraserburgh North School and St Andrews School on completion of the new school building, and continue education provision as a merged primary school located at the Fraserburgh Academy site. All existing Fraserburgh North School and St Andrews School pupils enrolled at the point of closure would continue their education within the new primary school located at the Fraserburgh Academy site once the building is completed. On 22nd November 2023, Scottish Ministers approved the council's decision.

The consultation ran from 12th December 2022 until 24th February 2023, which covered the required minimum of 30 days term time consultation. A public meeting was held on 1st February 2023 at Fraserburgh Academy. An online survey was available as part of the consultation.

Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to Education Scotland for their consideration. Education Scotland produced a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal.

Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the Education Scotland report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.

The consultation report was presented at Banff and Buchan Area Committee on 13th June 2023. Education and Children’s Services Committee considered the report on 31st August 2023 and the final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 28th September 2023.

To find out more about the proposal, view the Fraserburgh North School and St Andrews School merger documents.

View translated information:

Rezoning of Balmedie School catchment at Blackdog

The council proposed to rezone the Balmedie School catchment area to include the whole of the Blackdog settlement and align with the Aberdeenshire Council boundary.

The consultation ran from 14th October 2022 until 6th January 2023. A public meeting was held on 10th November 2022 in Balmedie School.

Following the statutory consultation period, all documentation on the consultation was sent to Education Scotland for consideration and Education Scotland produced a report addressing the educational aspects on the proposal. Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the Education Scotland report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation with officer recommendation.

Formartine Area Committee considered the report, and on 25th May 2023 Education and Children’s Services Committee approved the rezoning of Balmedie School catchment at Blackdog. The changes were implemented from August 2023.

To find out more about the proposal, view the Rezoning of Balmedie School at Blackdog documents.

Closure of Gartly School

On 24th November 2022 the council made the decision to permanently close Gartly School and re-assign its catchment area to both Kennethmont School and Rhynie School, creating a dual zone enabling parents to select between one of these schools. On 18th January 2023, Scottish Ministers approved the council’s decision to close Gartly School and realign its catchment area to both Kennethmont School and Rhynie School.

The statutory consultation ran from 7th December 2021 until 23rd February 2022. This covered the required minimum period of 30 days term time. The council proposed to discontinue education at Gartly School and re-assign its catchment area to either Kennethmont School or Rhynie School.

Two virtual public meetings to discuss the proposal were held on 25th and 26th January 2022. A face to face public meeting was held on 15th March 2022. An online survey was also available as part of the consultation.

Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.

The consultation report was presented for consideration at Marr Area Committee on 20th September 2022, and Education and Children’s Services Committee on 13th October 2022. The final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 24th November 2022.

To find out more about the proposal, view the Gartly School closure consultation documents. 

Closure of Longhaven School

On 30th June 2022 Aberdeenshire Council made the decision to permanently close Longhaven School and re-assign its catchment area to both Boddam School and Port Erroll School, creating a dual zone enabling parents to select between one of these schools. On 18 August 2022 Scottish Ministers approved Aberdeenshire Council’s decision to close Longhaven School and realign its catchment area to both Boddam School and Port Errol School.

The council proposed to discontinue education at Longhaven School and re-assign its catchment area to either Boddam School and/or Port Erroll School.

The statutory consultation ran from 7th December 2021 until 24th February 2022. This covered the required minimum of 30 days term time consultation.

Two virtual public meetings to discuss the proposal were held on 24th January and 25th January 2022. An online survey was available as part of the consultation.

Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to Education Scotland for their consideration. Education Scotland produced a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal.

Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the Education Scotland report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.

This report was presented at Buchan Area Committee on 14th April 2022. The Education and Children’s Services Committee then considered the report on 9th June 2022 and the final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 30th June 2022.

To find all documents and reports, view documents relating to the Longhaven School closure consultation.

Merger of Dales Park and Meethill Schools

On 23rd September 2021 the council made the decision to permanently close both Dales Park and Meethill Schools on completion of the new primary school at Peterhead Community Campus in 2025. On 16th November 2021 the Scottish Government have confirmed that the decision on the merger of Dales Park and Meethill schools in Peterhead will not be called in. The design of the new Peterhead Community campus will now get underway, with the campus to bring Peterhead Academy, Anna Ritchie School and a new primary with Dales Park and Meethill all to one location. 

The council proposed that education provision at the existing Dales Park and Meethill Schools should be discontinued with effect from July 2025. Existing and future pupils of Dales Park and Meethill Schools should continue their education within the new Peterhead Community Campus located at Kinmundy Road, Peterhead from August 2025. 

A statutory consultation period on the proposed merger of Dales Park and Meethill Schools was undertaken from 7th December 2020 until 26th February 2021. This covered the required minimum period of 30 days term time consultation. An online public meeting was held on 3rd February 2021.

Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to Education Scotland for their consideration. Education Scotland produced a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal. 

Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the Education Scotland report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.

The consultation report will be presented at Buchan Area Committee on 22nd June 2021. Education and Children’s Services Committee will then consider the report to make a decision on the proposal on 26th August 2021.

To find out more about the proposal, view merger of Dales Park and Meethill Schools consultation documents.

Closure of Strachan School

On 29th April 2021 the council made the decision to permanently close Strachan School. Members of the public were asked to make representations to Scottish Ministers until 19th May 2021 if they wanted the decision to be reviewed. On 23rd June 2021 Scottish Ministers approved the decision to close the school and realign its catchment area to both Finzean and Banchory Primary Schools.

The council proposed to discontinue education at Strachan School which is currently mothballed and re-assign its catchment area to that of either Banchory Primary School and/or Finzean School.

The consultation ran from 7th January 2020 to 28th February 2020. A public meeting was held at Strachan Village Hall on 6th February 2020.

Following the statutory consultation period, the council submitted the consultation proposal, all responses and relevant documentation to Education Scotland for consideration and Education Scotland produced a report on the proposal addressing the educational aspects of the proposal.

Aberdeenshire Council’s report on the context of the Education Scotland report, responses to representations and officer recommendation on the proposal were submitted to Marr Area Committee in December 2020 then onto Educations and Children’s Services Committee in January 2021 for consideration and recommendation. Full Council has made the decision to permanently close Strachan School.

To find all documents and reports, view closure of Strachan School consultation documents.

Relocation of Anna Ritchie School

The council proposed that education provision at the existing Anna Ritchie School should be discontinued with effect from July 2025. Existing and future pupils of Anna Ritchie School should continue their education at the new Peterhead Community Campus located at Kinmundy Road, Peterhead from August 2025.

A statutory consultation on the proposed relocation of Anna Ritchie School was undertaken from 7th December 2020 until 26th February 2021. This covered the required minimum of 30 days term time consultation. A virtual public meeting was held on 20th January 2021.

Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to Education Scotland for their consideration. Education Scotland produced a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal.

Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the Education Scotland report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.

The consultation report was considered at Buchan Area Committee on 22nd June 2021. At its meeting on 26th August 2021 Education and Children’s Services Committee agreed to adopt the proposal to relocate Anna Ritchie School to the Peterhead Community Campus.

To find out more about the proposal, view relocation of Anna Ritchie School consultation documents.

Rezone of Hillside School Catchment

The statutory period regarding the Rezone of Hillside School ran from Monday, 10th February 2020 until Friday, 28th August 2020.

The council proposed that the Hillside School Catchment area be amended to remove the Leathan Fields, Portlethen, with this new housing being zoned to either Portlethen Primary School or Fishermoss School from the completion of the consultation process.

The council considered all the responses to the consultation. A final consultation report was presented to Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee on 8th December 2020, and to Education and Children Services Committee on 28th January 2021. Both committees approved the recommendation within the report.

View the documents regarding rezone of Hillside School Catchment.

Relocation of Peterhead Academy

The statutory consultation period regarding the Relocation of Peterhead Academy ran from 14th October 2019 until 13th December 2019.

The council proposed that education provision at the existing Peterhead Academy should be discontinued with effect from July 2025. Pupils from the existing Peterhead Academy and future pupils from the Peterhead Academy catchment areas should continue their education at a new Peterhead Community Campus located at Kinmundy Road, Peterhead from August 2025.

The council considered all the responses to the consultation. A final consultation report was presented at Buchan Area Committee on 15th September 2020, and to Education and Children’s Services Committee on 8th October 2020. Both committees approved the recommendation within the report.

View the documents regarding the relocation of Peterhead Academy.

Review of Inverurie Primary School catchment area

The statutory consultation ran from 5th June 2019 until 6th September 2019.

The council proposed to amend the existing primary school catchment areas for Kellands School, Strathburn School and Uryside School, with effect from August 2020. 

The council considered all the responses to the consultation and a report was presented at Garioch Area Committee in November and December 2019. The recommendations in the report were approved at Education & Children’s Services Committee on 5 December 2019. 

View the documents and new catchment areas for each school.

Blairs Housing Development rezoning

The consultation ran from 28th June 2017 until 29th September 2017. 

We are proposing to formalise the arrangements for the pupils living in the Blairs housing development and that these pupils should continue to be zoned to Lairhillock School for primary education and then to the secondary school for the cluster which is Mackie Academy. New pupils from the Blairs housing development should be educated at their newly zoned secondary school with effect from August 2018. 

This proposal was prompted by the decision made by Aberdeen City Council to remove the Blairs housing development from the Cults Academy catchment area.   

The council considered all the responses to this consultation. A consultation report was presented at Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee on 24 September 2019 and to the Education and Children’s Services Committee on 10 October 2019 where the recommendations were approved.

View the Blairs housing development rezoning consultation documents.

Fraserburgh Primary Schools

The council is reviewing primary school provision in Fraserburgh. This follows an initial assessment that school catchment zones in the town were not best serving the community and the annual Condition and Suitability surveys identified school buildings in Fraserburgh which did not meet satisfactory requirements.

In 2016, the initial stage of the consultation provided eight options for the community to comment on and a poll asked respondents which one they preferred. The results of the initial stage of the consultation indicated a preference for a merger of St Andrews School and Fraserburgh North School into a new build school.

The council investigated a number of locations for siting a new primary school and found the site that offered the required space and proximity to the pupil population of St Andrew’s School and Fraserburgh North School was the ground adjacent to Fraserburgh Academy.

Consideration has also been given to the commitment by the Scottish Government to expand entitlement for childcare from 600 hours to 1,140 hours for two, three and four-year-olds by 2020. As a result council officers have investigated converting the St Andrew’s School infant building for use as a nursery facility. Converting this building would give the council a modern facility with a capacity of approximately 140 children.

The council invited your feedback on the following three options:

  • Merge Fraserburgh North and St Andrew’s Schools into a new build school with nursery on the Academy campus
  • Merge Fraserburgh North and St Andrew’s Schools into a new build school on the Academy campus, with nursery provision at converted St Andrew’s infant building
  • Status quo – leave schools and catchment zones as they are

For further information please view the Fraserburgh Primary Schools consultation presentation, which was given to staff and parents at Fraserburgh Academy on the 22nd February 2017.

The informal engagement about these particular stages has been completed. Further engagement may be required at a later date.

Peterhead Community Campus

Aberdeenshire Council have put forward two options for consideration by the public on a site for a proposed new Community Campus in Peterhead. A decision on which option is to be considered further has not taken place however a recommendation will be submitted to councillors in due course. The preferred option will also be subject to a robust business case. Option 1 is an edge of town site in the Clerkhill area of the town which would include a replacement secondary, a new primary school and Additional Support Needs provision. All sport, leisure and community facilities would also be on site. Option 1 also includes a replacement of Peterhead Central School on the current academy grounds. Option 2 is a replacement secondary on the current site of Peterhead Academy with associated pool and community facilities off site a Catto Park and Barclay Park. Option 2 also includes a replacement Central School and ASN provision on the existing academy site. View the drawings proposals, they are not meant to depict a final design or layout.

The informal engagement about these particular stages has been completed. Further engagement may be required at a later date.

Proposal on Relocation of St Andrew’s School to Inverurie Community Campus

A statutory consultation period on the proposed relocation of St Andrew’s School was undertaken from Monday 9 January 2017 to Friday 24th February 2017. This covered the required minimum of 30 days term time consultation. A public meeting was held at Inverurie Academy on 1st February 2017 at 7pm.

Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to Education Scotland for their consideration. Education Scotland produced a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal by Aberdeenshire Council to relocate St Andrew’s School within the Inverurie Community Campus. 

Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the Education Scotland report, survey results, oral and written representations. A report on the consultation, including responses to representations and officer recommendation on the proposal to relocate St Andrew’s School within the Inverurie Community Campus can be found below.

View the St Andrew’s School consultation documents. You can also view the site plan and floor plans. 

The report will be presented to the Garioch Area Committee on 6th June 2017 for discussion and recommendation, and then to the Education and Children’s Services (ECS) Committee on 14th June 2017. The Committee will consider the report and will be asked to approve the officer recommendation on the proposal.

Review of Stonehaven Town Primary School zones 2017

We have had a consultation on new school catchment areas for the 3 primary schools in the town of Stonehaven. These are Arduthie School, Dunnottar School and Mill O’Forest School. The catchment areas or zones determine which school a pupil should attend, based on where they live. This consultation ran from 28th June 2017 until 29th September 2017.

We considered all responses to the consultation. A report with recommendations went to Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee on 28th November 2017 and to the Education and Children’s Services Committee on 7th December 2017 where the recommendations were approved.

View our Stonehaven Town Primary School consultation documents.

Changes to the catchment areas for Arduthie School, Dunnottar School and Mill O’Forest School will take effect from August 2018. 

Review of Mintlaw Network Primary School zones

Aberdeenshire Council have consulted on new school catchment areas for six primary schools in the Mintlaw Network. These were Stuartfield, Mintlaw Primary, Pitfour, Maud, Fetterangus and Longside. The catchment areas or zones determine which school a pupil should attend, based upon where they live. This consultation ran from 5th October 2016 until 2nd December 2016.

Aberdeenshire Council considered all responses to the consultation and a report with recommendations went to the Buchan Area Committee on 31st January 2017 and to the Education and Children's services Committee on 16th February 2017. 

The following recommendations were approved by the Committees:

  1. Rezone Old Deer from Stuartfield School to Maud School
  2. Rezone Nether Aden and all streets to the west of South Street to Pitfour School from Mintlaw Primary School, with Mintlaw Primary School retaining the Northwoods development and Clola

Changes to the catchment areas for Maud school, Mintlaw Primary school, Pitfour school and Stuartfield school will be implemented with effect from August 2017.

View Mintlaw Network Primary School zones consultation documents.

Rezoning of the Primary School catchment areas in Ellon

An online survey is currently available to gather views on the current catchment areas for schools in the Ellon Primary School network. The survey seeks to find out any areas that may need to change before developing a set of options for informal engagement sessions. The dualling of the AWPR between Balmedie and Tipperty may affect how easily families living nearby can get to their zoned school and so views are being sought on that as well.

Crimond School and Kellands School dyslexia units

This statutory consultation proposes the redesign of the support and reallocation of the dyslexia units at Kellands and Crimond Schools to an area model. The consultation ran from 6th January 2015 to 26th February 2015.

Public meetings were held on Tuesday 3rd February at Crimond School at 6.30pm and Wednesday 4th February at Kellands School at 6.30pm.

The proposal document can be found below, along with Aberdeenshire Council's report on the consultation which includes Education Scotland's report. This report was considered by Garioch and Buchan Area Committees in April 2015 and by the Education and Children's Services Committee in May and August 2015 in order for a final decision to be made.

View Crimond School and Kellands School dyslexia units consultation documents.

On 27th August 2015, the Education and Children's Services Committee made the decision to close the two dyslexia units as per the recommendations in the consultation report. Aberdeenshire Council has notified the Scottish Government of its decision.

The Scottish Government called in Aberdeenshire Council's decision and it was considered by the School Closure Review Panel. On 23rd November 2015 the panel decided to overturn Aberdeenshire Council's decision to close the units.

Relocation of Newtonhill School enhanced provision centre to Portlethen Primary School, Portlethen

The council considered all responses to this consultation and a report with recommendations went to the Education and Children’s Services Committee on 16th February 2017. View the Portlethen and Newtonhill consultation report. 

Establishment of an enhanced provision centre at Mill O' Forest School, Stonehaven

The council considered all responses to this consultation and a report with recommendations went to the Education and Children’s Committee on 16th February 2017. View the enhanced provision for Stonehaven consultation report.