The Commission on the Delivery of Rural Education, chaired by Sheriff David Sutherland from Tain, is tasked with examining both how the delivery of rural education can maximise the attainment and life chances of young people in rural areas, and the link between rural education and rural communities.
The Commission will also review the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and its application and make recommendations on the delivery of all aspects of education in rural areas.
The Commission issued a Call for Evidence to allow all interested parties to provide written evidence and views to the Commission. The Call for Evidence will close on 12 January 2012.
The Commission is currently planning how to take oral evidence from communities and details of its visits and public meetings will be placed here as they are arranged.
The Commission on Rural Education is established jointly by Scottish Government and COSLA.
At the Commission's first meeting it was agreed that the Commission's work would require 12 months and our remit has been revised to reflect the new deadline of August 2012. It was also agreed to co-opt James Fraser, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands as an additional member of the Commission. James will bring important expertise to the Commission on further and higher education as well his knowledge of education across the Highlands and Islands.
Remit
The Commission has the following remit:
- To review the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and its application; and
- To examine how the delivery of rural education can maximize attainment and outcomes to give pupils the best life chances, and to examine, where appropriate, how this can be applied more widely; and
- To make recommendations on how to reflect best practice on the delivery of all aspects education in rural areas (pre-school through to higher & further education); and
- To examine the links between rural education and the preservation, support and development of rural communities and to make recommendations on how these links might be strengthened if necessar; and
- To examine and make recommendations on funding issues surrounding rural education.
Output and timescales
- The Commission will begin its work on 1 August 2011 and submit its final report and recommendations to Scottish Ministers and COSLA by August 2012. The final report will be published following its receipt.
Guiding principles
- The Commission's work shall be inclusive with all key stakeholders being given the opportunity to contribute and provide evidence.
- The Review's recommendations shall be underpinned by hard evidence, therefore, the Commission will be expected to look at relevant evidence from home and abroad in shaping its conclusions.
- In achieving this, the Commission shall have licence to think radically about achieving national and local governments' commitments in this area.
- The Commission shall make recommendations which are consistent with and facilitate the delivery of the Government's National Outcomes.
- Following presentation and acceptance of the Commission's final report and recommendations, the Government and COSLA will work in partnership to help secure their successful implementation.