01/04/2004 - Official Report
Link to The Scottish Parliament Official Document.
3. Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of rural
schools in maintaining sustainable rural communities. (S2O-1827)
The Minister for Education and Young People (Peter Peacock): All schools make an important contribution to their
communities. Over time, service provision across Scotland changes in the light of changing local circumstances. It is for local
councils to determine how best to serve the needs of their diverse communities.
Rhona Brankin: The minister is aware of proposals for rural school closures in my constituency of Midlothian.
I am glad that he acknowledges the important role that local schools play. Given that the Department for Education and Skills has
implemented a presumption against the closure of rural schools in England, does the minister agree that there is a strong case for
guidance in Scotland to be strengthened? As he knows, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament published
a report in July 2000 that made that point to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Audit Scotland, but very little
progress appears to have been made in the intervening period. Will the minister address the issue as a matter of urgency, so that
no rural school closes unless the closure is clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area?
Peter Peacock: I recognise Rhona Brankin's concerns about schools in her constituency, as she has spoken to me
about the issue more than once in recent weeks. She is right that, a year or so ago, COSLA abandoned its work to produce a code of
practice on such matters. We have made it clear that we are prepared and want to produce a new guide for parents that stresses what
the respective roles of local authorities and ministers are. I will try to move that process along as quickly as I can.
Existing guidance makes it clear what procedures local authorities have to follow. It is a primary consideration of local
authorities to have the educational interests of the whole community in mind when they make any decisions about changes in school
provision. Local authorities are under a statutory duty to provide adequate and efficient education for their area and to comply
with the provisions of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000.
The member referred to the presumption against closure that exists in England and Wales. The rural situation in England, in particular,
is very different from that in Scotland. Schools with as many as 800 pupils may be regarded as rural schools, whereas in Scotland a school
with 800 pupils would be regarded as a pretty big urban primary school. That said, at the time that the DFES issued its guidelines
indicating a presumption against closure, Brian Wilson, who was then the minister responsible for education in Scotland, issued guidance
in relation to what he called a test of proportionate advantage. That involved weighing up the financial advantages of a particular school
closure against any educational disadvantages and the effect on local communities of a change in educational provision. As we all know,
Brian Wilson is an extremely able and wise politician. It is right that his advice was listened to at that time. He set out a good test
and local authorities should still have regard to it.
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): In last week's debate on the closure of Borders rural schools, I
put a question to the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People that he declined to answer. I would like to put the same
question to the minister. Will he commit himself to making the wishes of parents a priority when making decisions about proposals
for school closures that come to him?
Peter Peacock: If proposals for school closures come to me, I will take the advice of my officials, as I always
do. When considering any such matters, I also take advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. I am bound to check whether
the local authority in question has followed the procedures that we have set out for it. If I find deficiencies, I will take
appropriate action. The clear statutory position is that we devolve responsibility for local matters to the level at which decisions
are best made. Local councils have a far better view of their communities and how they work than I have, sitting in Edinburgh. That
is the statutory position that I want to defend.
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): Given the impact that proposed closures in my constituency
in the Borders and in Midlothian will have on already fragile communities, will the Education Department ensure that it works with
both the Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the Development Department to stress that proposed school closures have a wider
impact on rural communities?
Peter Peacock: I referred earlier to the test of proportionate advantage, which was designed specifically to guide
local authorities on the considerations that they must take into account when they examine these difficult and important matters. As
I said in response to Rhona Brankin's question, local authorities must weigh up the financial benefits of closure, which parents often
perceive as driving the proposals, against the impact of any changes on the education of young people and on the communities that are
affected. That is a good test and we should continue to apply it.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): I welcome the minister's conciliatory tone on this pressing issue,
but does he acknowledge the very urgent need for national guidelines that contain a presumption against the closure of rural schools?
Indeed, there is all the more need for such guidelines, given the proposed mass closures of such schools in Scotland and the fact
that in England only a very few schools have been closed.
Peter Peacock: I have indicated that I take these matters seriously, and I acknowledge that parents have very
serious concerns. However, I must also point out that local authorities have to make very serious considerations and manage their
future provision in a way that will deliver the best education for all the children under their care.
I have mentioned the test of proportionate advantage. The Scottish ministers took that position at the time that English ministers
chose the route that they went down. We have clearly set out the guidance that local authorities must have regard to. For example,
they must take account of parents' representations before they reach any decisions. I repeat that the test of proportionate advantage
is the right one for local authorities to consider in weighing up local decisions. I do not think that, fundamentally, our guidance
is in any way wrong.
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): I add my voice to those of members who want the new guidance to be
issued urgently. The minister's own department parked the idea a year ago, when it was said that the guidance should include a presumption
against rural school closure. I heard what the minister said about the differences in England, but I think that such a presumption is
essential.
Will the minister consider this matter against his own commitment in the Lib-Lab coalition document "Building Our Future" to place
"The school at the heart of the community"?
How can we support any rural school closure if the community in question opposes it? Surely the minister must issue the guidance
with such a presumption soon.
Peter Peacock: I have already answered the point about the presumption in my responses to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
and Rhona Brankin. As I said, I recognise that local primary schools in rural areas play an important part in their community; however,
any local primary school plays an important part in its community.
The fact is that populations in Scotland shift and change and, in certain communities, decline. As a result, local authorities are
required to consider modern provision for their schools and the future provision of education in their areas. They need to take account
of the issues that I have covered today- and which I am happy to cover again in the future when reaching decisions on these matters.
