Town schools set for change

Parents of pupils at primary school in Elgin can find outmoreabout new catchment areas during a drop-in session next week.

A wide-ranging consultationwascarried out earlier this year on proposals for rezoning the catchment areas to address capacity issues.

The mass shake-up, which comes into force in January, comes as the local authority plans to build two new primary schools in the town.

The first isapriority in the south-east and another in the north by 2020.

Newhousing developments and a growing population in Moray’s biggest town mean most of the schools in the townare currentlybrimming.

Without action from Moray Council, four of six primaries – Bishopmill, East End, New Elgin and Seafield – were

“Most schools in the town are currently brimming”

all expected to exceeded their current capacities by 2018.

The move was hastened as education officerswarnedfailing to revise the catchment areas could mean children would be unable to attend their zoned school and be forced to commute to schools outwith Elgin.

As well as Bishopmill, East End, NewElginand Seafield, the council is looking to rezoneGreenwardsandWestEndprimaries.

Two new primary schools would also be built, with the second in the north completed by 2020.

Parents who would like to find out more about the new zones and how they might affect their children will be able to have a chat with education officials at Elgin Community Centre on Thursday, November 26 between 4pm-6pm.