Aberdeenshire Council’s education committee will meet later this week to discuss the future of several primary schools in the region.
Councillors have been asked to consider rezoning the Mintlaw network of school zones after concerns were raised about the impact of major housing developments.
The recommendation comes after local members of the Buchan area committee were consulted and backed the proposals to take another look at schooling around the region’s biggest village.
The catchment area of Mintlaw Primary, Pitfour School, Maud School and Stuartfield School will all be reorganised.
Local councillor, Jim Ingram, has urged the education department to factor in planned and possible housing developments when planning for the future.
He said: “There are two elements – the Stuartfield situation and he other is Mintlaw itself.
“It’s basically [a] short-term [situation], because in the local development plan, we have got a lot of housing scheduled for construction.
“In two or three years’ time, we’re going to have to think about extending the capacity of primary schools in Mintlaw.”
In a report to the committee, which will meet in Aberdeen on Thursday morning, education director Maria Walker made it clear no existing pupils will be asked to move to a different school under the new proposals. Siblings will also continue to attend the same school.
She added: “The new zones will only come into effect for new children moving into the area, or for the new cohort of P1 pupils in August 2017.
“This rezoning addresses the capacity issues at Stuartfield School and will manage the potential increase to Mintlaw village schools, due to current and proposed housing developments.”
If the changes are approved, children from the village of Old Deer would attend Maud School rather than Stuartfield.
The Nether Aden development in Mintlaw would then be zoned for Pitfour School, rather than Mintlaw Primary. Other options include extending the existing Stuartfield and Pitfour school buildings to increase capacity.
Members of the Buchan area committee – including Mr Ingram – were consulted on the plans last month.
