Issue - meetings

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the majority of respondents to the consultation were not supportive of the proposals.  To further note the Report from Education Scotland addressing aspects of the proposal which highlighted a number of unaddressed concerns which could unintentionally have a significant impact on the learning opportunities and equity of access of GME provision for children across Aberdeen City;

(ii)       to acknowledge that Aberdeen was not in line with the national trend of increasing uptake for GME provision across Scotland and instruct the Chief Officer – Education to undertake an evaluation of how we can improve uptake in the city and report back to Committee; and

(iii)      to agree to take no action on the current proposals and instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to consider and address the concerns from all consultees and stakeholders and further engage to explore all options for consideration and report back to Committee.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its meeting of 3 June 2021, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which presented the outcomes of a statutory consultation, on a proposal to introduce school catchment areas for the existing Gaelic Medium Education provision in Aberdeen City.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      agree to establish a catchment area for Gaelic Medium Education provision at Hazlehead Academy, to overlay the existing English medium catchment areas for Hazlehead Academy, Northfield Academy and Aberdeen Grammar School, with effect from 1 August 2022; and

(b)      agree to establish a catchment area for the existing Gaelic Medium Education provision at Gilcomstoun School, to overlay the existing English medium catchment areas for Gilcomstoun School, Ashley Road School, Mile End School and Skene Square School, with effect from 1 August 2022.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the majority of respondents to the consultation were not supportive of the proposals; and to further note the report from Education Scotland addressing aspects of the proposal which highlighted a number of unaddressed concerns which could unintentionally have a significant impact on the learning opportunities and equity of access of GME provision for children across Aberdeen City;

(ii)       to acknowledge that Aberdeen was not in line with the national trend of increasing uptake for GME provision across Scotland and instruct the Chief Officer – Education to undertake an evaluation of how we can improve uptake in the city and report back to Committee; and

(iii)      to agree to take no action on the current proposals and instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to consider and address the concerns from all consultees and stakeholders and further engage to explore all options for consideration and report back to Committee.