Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010

14 Designation 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.