Moray Council has finalised plans to reshape school catchment areas around Forres in an effort to prevent classrooms from becoming overcrowded.
A package of measures will go before the authority’s children and young people’s committee next week, affecting Alves, Anderson’s, Applegrove, Kinloss and Pilmuir primary schools
The sweeping proposals were formed in response to increasing pressure on the area’s rolls, and follow talks between headteachers and council education bosses.
Councillors will be asked to move forward with a string of changes, which will come into effect in August.
The plans were first mooted last June, and public consultation events were staged to gauge parents’ opinions throughout the summer.
The papers which will go before elected members on Wednesday suggest the move will help preserve smaller schools which could otherwise have come under the threat of closure.
Senior education advisor, Paul Watson, said: “There were a number of positive comments in favour of the proposals, including the idea that an increased school roll will create a more sustainable school roll within the smaller school communities.
“Rezoning could also help staffing levels and management structures, and ensure a sufficiency of school places across the five communities.”
The report adds: “Failure to address zoning issues may increase the risk of children who live within certain school zones being unable to attend their zoned school in the future.”
The survey was carried out while the fate of the Kinloss Army Barracks remained unknown – amid fears it could be closed as part of a UK Government cost-cutting drive.
The base employs 700 personnel attached to the 39 Engineer Regiment, and parents worried its demise would lead to the closure of the school.
But in November, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the long-term future of the site and residents around Moray breathed a sigh of relief.
Some parents responded to the consultation, arguing the case for retaining part of the Anderson’s Primary catchment area, to the north of the A96, in its original zone.
Officers were persuaded to amend their original scheme, and adapted the new zones to ensure children living there could go to Anderson’s rather than make the trip to Kinloss Primary School.