Janet Biggar and Shona Mulholland, George Street Research
ISBN 978 0 7559 7426 9 (Web only publication)
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CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE CONSULTATION
2 RURAL SCHOOL CLOSURES
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO CONSULTATION ON CLOSURE OF A RURAL SCHOOL
FOUR MATTERS FOR REGARD
A RURAL SCHOOLS FUND
DEFINITION OF RURAL SCHOOLS
3 AN EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT STATEMENT
HOW THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT STATEMENT SHOULD BE SET OUT
4 HMIE INVOLVEMENT
SEEKING HMIE'S VIEWS
5 PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE WAY CONSULTATIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED
OVERALL SUPPORT
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS
REQUIREMENT FOR CONSULTATION PAPER CONTAINING CERTAIN INFORMATION
MECHANISM FOR ADDRESSING FACTUAL INACCURACIES
EXTENSION OF LIST OF PEOPLE WHO MUST BE CONSULTED
UPDATING THE WAY CONSULTATIONS ARE PUBLICISED
UPDATING HOW PEOPLE CAN RESPOND TO A CONSULTATION
EXTENDING THE MINIMUM CONSULTATION PERIOD TO SIX WEEKS OF TERM TIME
REQUIREMENT TO PUBLISH A CONSULTATION REPORT
6 MINISTERIAL POWER TO ISSUE STATUTORY GUIDANCE
7 A REFERRAL SYSTEM
PRESENT SYSTEM OF REFERRAL
POSSIBLE CHANGES
FUTURE REFERRAL TO MINISTERS
DENOMINATIONAL EDUCATION
8 OTHER ISSUES RAISED
9 CONCLUSIONS
APPENDIX 1: CONSULTATION QUESTIONS
APPENDIX 2: LIST OF PUBLIC MEETINGS
APPENDIX 3: GREAT RURAL DEBATE ON SCHOOLS
APPENDIX 4: TOPIC GUIDE
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