School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) Scotland Regulations: FOI release

Information requested

I wish to make a Freedom of Information request regarding the above and the procedure that a local authority must follow to make an application for a dispensation to reduce the area of a site which does not meet the conditions set out in Part 3 Standards for Sites. Section 7 for secondary schools.

a) Can you please advise how many secondary schools have applied to the Scottish Government for a dispensation to reduce the area of a site in the last 3 years to date?

b) Which local authorities in Scotland have applied, if any to the Scottish Government for a dispensation of the above regulations?

c) Has any application been submitted by City of Edinburgh Council for a new Secondary School in Kirkliston?

d) What is the procedure to object or make representation to an application submitted by either an organisation or an association before a decision is made by the Government?”

Response

Part A:
I can advise that the answer to your question is that no secondary schools have applied to the Scottish Government for a dispensation to reduce the area of a site in the last 3 years (03/10/2020 – 03/10/2023).

Part B:
The answer to your question is that only the City of Edinburgh Council have previously (prior to 03/10/2020) applied for a dispensation of the Schools Premises (General Requirements and Standards) Scotland Regulations 1967.

Part C:
The answer to your question is that, as of the date of your request (03/10/2023), no application has been submitted by the City for Edinburgh Council through the Schools Premises (General Requirements and Standards) Scotland Regulations 1967 in relation to a new secondary school in Kirkliston.

Part D:
Where a local authority proposes to establish a new school, they are required to undertake a formal consultation in line with the requirements set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 - Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk). There is also a guide available at - Proposed changes to your child's school: guide to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 as amended - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

This process provides an opportunity for the local community to make representations to the local authority and put forward their views on the proposal. In relation to the proposal to establish a new secondary school at Kirkliston, City of Edinburgh Council is conducting a consultation which closes on 31 October, and this would be an opportunity to make a representation - A New Non-Denominational Secondary School in Kirkliston and associated Catchment Changes - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space.

Scottish Ministers do not have a role in consultations under the above Act in relation to establishing new schools.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.