Proposed changes to primary school zoning to the Westhill network — Westhill, Crombie, Elrick and Skene — could take a step forward on January 12.

The Garioch Area Committee, which meets at Gordon House in Inverurie at 10.15am, will consider a report from education officers.

It said: “This proposed rezoning tidies up rural parts of the catchments, ensuring they follow roads and postcode boundaries wherever possible, and also addresses capacity issues within the four schools.”

No existing pupils will be forced to move to a different school, and siblings will continue to be able to attend the same school.

The new zones, if approved, will only come into effect for new children moving into the area, or for the new cohort of P1 pupils in August 2016.

The committee is being asked to consider the report and make a recommendation to the Education, Learning and Leisure Committee that Aberdeenshire Council adopt the proposals, which have “some minor amendments” following consultation.

The report said: “All of the Broadshade housing development should be zoned to Crombie School, ensuring Skene School keeps its rural identity.

“To compensate for the Westward expansion of Crombie School, the area around Morven Drive in Westhill should be rezoned to Westhill School.

“In addition, Crombie School may need to be extended to cope with all additional pupils, the cap at Elrick School can be lifted, and it may ultimately be possible to remove the temporary accommodation at Skene School.”

For full report, click (12)_Westhill_Network_Consultation_Report_Final.