Decision Maker: Formartine Area Committee

Outcome: Approve

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 4, 2025

Purpose: Statutory consultation regarding the merger of Foveran School and Tipperty School. Both schools should merge and operate as a single school from August 2025.

Content: The Committee provided the following comments:   a)    The soft capping option, as raised by Dr Bowman, should be explored and detailed within the report to ECS, b)    ECS should be made aware of what data has been presented to the parents to date, c)    There should be further consideration given to the timescales for the proposed merger, should we move at pace or is there merit to continuing in the current format for one more school year, d)    Further information should be provided to ECS in relation to carbon emissions and available data relating to this, and the sizes of buses likely to be used, e)    Due to difference of opinion between the Service and parents, clarity should be provided to ECS on the cost of school transport, and whether these costs have been considered in perpetuity,   f)      The road safety concerns noted by parents should be considered further, g)    As this is a split site, cognisance should be given to parents who may have to collect their child at short notice, but may not have transport to do so, h)    ECS should be provided with the impacts for both schools, should the merger not happen, i)      We need to capture the Place Planning aspect – a how do we merge the thinking between this proposed merger and the Local Place Plan process which is ongoing, j)      The sustainability of the school estate and wider impact should be considered.