Education consultations
View details of current school consultations.
The council has decided to go ahead with the following changes, to make a representation to Scottish Ministers, view:
- Merger of Fintry School and King Edward School, which will result in the closure of Fintry School
- Closure of Kinneff School, with the catchment area merging with Catterline School
Closure of Slains School
The council is proposing to discontinue education at Slains School and reassign its catchment area to either Hatton (Cruden) School, Newburgh Mathers School or Port Erroll School.
The consultation period has now ended. The council will provide His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE) with the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations and any other relevant documentation for their consideration. HMIE will review all documentation and produce a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal.
Officers will review the proposal in the context of the HMIE report, survey results, oral and written representations and produce a final report on the consultation.
The consultation report will be considered at Buchan and Formartine Area Committees, Education and Children’s Services Committee and lastly Full Council for a decision on the officer recommendation.
After the Full Council meeting, there will be an eight-week period when members of the public can ask Scottish Ministers to review the decision. If no review is requested, the council will go ahead with it. If a review is requested, the School Closure Review Panel will look at the proposal, which can take up to 16 weeks. If the panel grants consent to the proposal, the council will then begin putting the plan into action.
Please note the proposed changes, if approved will take place immediately after the conclusion of the statutory process relating to school closures.
To find out more about the proposal, view the closure of Slains School consultation documents.
Merger of Fintry School and King Edward School
On 24th September 2026, the council made the decision to merge Fintry School and King Edward School. This will result in the closure of Fintry School.
This decision needs to be approved by Scottish Ministers before the council can begin implementation. Members of the public can make representations to Scottish Ministers requesting that the decision be reviewed.
If you would like to request that the Scottish Ministers review the decision, you can either email schoolclosure@gov.scot or write to The Scottish Government, School Infrastructure Unit, 2A (South), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.
Any representations must be made to Scottish Ministers by 14th October 2026.
View merger of Fintry and King Edward Schools consultation documents.
The consultation ran from 16th February until 27th March 2026, a public meeting was held on 4th March 2026.
Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to HMIE for their consideration. HMIE produced a report addressing the educational aspects of the proposal.
Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the HMIE report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.
The consultation report was presented to Banff and Buchan Area Committee on 16th June 2026, Formartine Area Committee on 30th June 2026 and Education and Children’s Services Committee on 27th August 2026. The final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 24th September 2026.
Closure of Kinneff School
On 24th September 2026 the council made the decision to permanently close Kinneff School and merge its catchment area with Catterline School.
This decision needs to be approved by Scottish Ministers before the council can begin implementation. Members of the public can make representations to Scottish Ministers requesting that the decision be reviewed.
If you would like to request that the Scottish Ministers review the decision, you can either email schoolclosure@gov.scot or write to The Scottish Government, School Infrastructure Unit, 2A (South), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.
Any representations must be made to Scottish Ministers by 14th October 2026.
The consultation ran from 12th January until 6th March 2026, two public meetings were held during the consultation period, one online and one in person.
Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE) for their consideration. HMIE produced a report addressing the educational aspects of the proposal.
Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the HMIE Report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.
The consultation report was presented at Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee on 9th June 2026, Education and Children's Services Committee on 27th August 2026 and the final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 24th September 2026.
Closure of Tullynessle School
On 30th April 2026, the council made the decision to permanently close Tullynessle School and re-assign its catchment area to Keig School. The decision requires approval by the Scottish Ministers before implementation can begin.
On 24th June 2026, the Scottish Ministers called in the decision and referred it to the School Closure Review Panels. The panel must reach a decision within 8 weeks of being constituted, meaning by 24th August 2026. If it cannot do so, it may issue a notice to the council explaining the delay and take up to a further 8 weeks. In that case, the council would receive the panel’s decision no later than 19th October 2026.
The council proposed to discontinue education at Tullynessle School and to reassign its catchment area to either Alford Primary School or Keig School.
The consultation ran from 1st September until 31st October 2025. This covered the required minimum of 30 days term time consultation.
A public meeting to discuss the proposal was held at Tullynessle and Forbes Hall on 29th September 2025 and an online survey was available as part of the consultation.
Following the statutory consultation period, officers submitted the proposal document, survey results, written and oral representations, and other relevant documentation to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE) for their consideration. HMIE produced a report addressing educational aspects of the proposal.
Officers reviewed the proposal in the context of the HMIE report, survey results, oral and written representations and produced a final report on the consultation.
The consultation report was presented at Marr Area Committee on 10th March 2026. Education and Children’s Services Committee considered the report on 26th March 2026 and the final decision on the proposal was made by Full Council on 30th April 2026.
To find out more about the proposal, view the closure of Tullynessle School consultation documents.