Small or dilapidated primary schools in the Mearns could be under threat of merger or closure, if they fail to meet new criteria to be considered by Aberdeenshire Council.
The authority’s education, learning and leisure committee will meet this week to discuss recommendations regarding the primary school estate that could impact children in the region.
A list of five key educational, economic and practical areas has been drawn up that could see smaller schools merged or shut if the checklist is not met.
Under the proposals, no individual child would be educated in a school with fewer than three children within two class levels.
The viability of schools with rolls of 19 pupils or less, or at risk of falling below 19, would be then examined in conjunction with parents and staff.
No individual child would be expected to undertake a home-to-school journey of more than 45 minutes and any school building in poor condition would be reviewed.
Finally, any town school operating at below 66% capacity within a town where primary schools are operating at less than 75% capacity overall, would be examined for the possibility of a merger.
The proposals will be discussed by members of the committee at a meeting in Woodhill House, Aberdeen, on Thursday.
Aberdeenshire Council claims the move is part of a plan to “provide the highest quality of education in all schools in the area” by developing of an improved school estate that is fit for purpose.
The committee will be presented with a variety of information on the estate, including the condition of buildings, capacity figures and estimated costs of running each school on an annual basis.
The report also highlights the challenges faced by schools with exceptionally small rolls in providing the social and educational opportunities available in larger schools.
No individual schools are currently outlined for review, and councillors will not be asked to identify schools for review at the meeting.
Individual reviews are expected to come forward as the process moves forward, although the number of proposals for potential merger of facilities is expected to be relatively small. If the proposals are supported, consultation on the schools estate would begin in June and run until October this year.
A report will come before the committee at a future date outlining the outcome of the consultation, and with details of a small number of schools for initial examination under the proposed arrangements.