Special provision for rural schools
I114Designation of rural schools
1
In this Act, a “rural school” is a school which is designated as such by its inclusion in the list of rural schools maintained by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of this subsection.
2
In determining the question of rurality when considering whether a school falls to be included in or excluded from the list of rural schools, the Scottish Ministers are to have regard (in particular) to—
a
the population of the community (or settlement) in which the school is located,
b
the geographical circumstances of that community (or settlement) including its relative remoteness or inaccessibility.
3
The list of rural schools is to be accompanied by an explanation of how the Scottish Ministers devised the list—
a
by reference to subsection (2), and
b
if they consider it appropriate, by reference to any recognised criteria available from a reliable source.
4
The Scottish Ministers are to—
a
monitor the list of rural schools (and update it as regularly as they consider necessary),
b
publish it (including as updated) in such way as they consider appropriate.
5
An education authority must provide the Scottish Ministers with such information as they may reasonably require of it in connection with the list of rural schools.