Moray Council this week put the new proposal out to public consultation with the closing date for replies Friday, July 7.

It proposes that a first stage review of a school's future would be triggered if its roll falls to 60% of its working capacity.

That would currently affect six primaries in Moray - St Peter's at Buckie, East End in Elgin, Glenlivet, Cabrach, Newmill near Keith, and Portknockie.

A spokesman for the Moray Save Our Schools Forum said it had yet to meet to discuss the implications of the proposed policy and would be doing so in the next week.

The forum fought a hard battle last year to oppose the closer and merger of up to 21 largely rural primary schools.

Those controversial proposals were subsequently scrapped by the council and a new approach was initiated by chief executive Alastair Keddie.

This new policy is the culmination of his investigations and it now suggests closure and merger as a last resort.

However, the forum expressed concern following a recent follow-up report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education which said Moray Council had failed to make sufficient progress in tackling excess capacity in its primary schools. That was viewed as inspectors trying to put pressure on the council to close schools.

The National Network of Rural Schools, which has worked closely with the Moray campaigners, and local MSP Richard Lochhead called for the 60% figure to be scrapped.

Under the proposed new policy, closure or merger would only come into consideration following a second stage review of a school's future.

The first stage review would assess the viability of a school taking into account pupil numbers and the condition of the buildings.

Other issues it would consider include:

* Actual occupancy rate.

* Potential for alternative uses for spare classrooms or buildings.

* Review of future housing development in the school catchment area.

During this review the views of parents, staff, community leaders and planners would be canvassed.

After this review has been completed, a report would go before the education committee which would have to decide if a second stage review is required. Among the issues being looked at would be balancing the educational case against the wider benefits to a community of retaining a school.

Mr Keddie said the conclusions of the recent HM inspectors' report will be taken into account, as well as social inclusion, travel times, curriculum choice and flexibility and access to facilities.

Following a second stage review the education committee could be faced with a number of choices.

They could either:

* Retain the school.

* Retain the school and utilise space with other council services.

* Retain the school but physically reduce its capacity.

* Mothball areas of the school or the whole school pending any population increase.

* Close or merge the school with a neighbouring school.

Mr Keddie said: "Our aims are to encourage the long-term viability of individual schools, to develop a strategy that would involve the wider community and fulfil the council's obligations to obtain best value."

While the council has a legal duty to deliver the best use of public money, Mr Keddie said each school had different circumstances.

"The issues are different in each case and it would be a mistake to assume that all schools make the same level of contribution to their local community.

"No-one wants to see schools close but there is not enough money to keep them all open at their present roll levels. There are no easy answers but we cannot continue as we are," added Mr Keddie.

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