Over the past 18 months, significant work has been undertaken within the Glenkens to explore the future of education and learning in the area. This work, led by the Community Action Plan Steering Group and supported by the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust (GCAT), has reaffirmed what previous commissioned research has shown: a strong educational provision is vital to supporting thriving rural communities and sustaining population levels.
Education plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining working-age families – a key priority for the future of the Glenkens and indeed all rural communities. In light of this, the community is clear that the Glenkens needs:
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A sustainable and stable statutory educational provision, from Nursery to senior years. This will attract working-age families into the area and give our young people the best possible start in life.
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A Post-16 Glenkens Education Hub, focused on equipping people with the skills needed to live and work locally and therefore supporting economic sustainability and resilience.
A Report is published today which sets out five key areas of focus that could make a real and tangible difference to the future of rural communities across Scotland.
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The overall economic and financial impact on communities needs to be properly considered by decision makers when considering school closure and mothballing proposals.
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Given the high percentage of rural schools, why are they not given more prominence in policy development and teacher training. We propose a rethink on how the national strategy relates to rural schools.
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We need national policies and funding that actively support warm words about repopulating our rural areas.
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A better decision-making process around school sustainability could lead to longer-term and better supported discussions, removing the heavy personal pressure on current parents.
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Ambitious plans like the Glenkens Education Hub need regional or national funding and community planning partners’ support to take the idea from a concept to a deliverable plan without an over-reliance on volunteers.
As constrained under current urban-centric national funding models, it remains challenging for local authorities to fully support these kinds of community-driven, rural-focused initiatives
All relevant parties therefore need to work together if we want to achieve this change. The CAP Steering Group is calling on key stakeholders to take the following meaningful steps in support of their rural communities:
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To political parties: Turn expressions of support for rural communities and economies into concrete commitments and actionable policies in upcoming manifestos.
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To Dumfries and Galloway Council: Continue working in partnership with local communities and businesses to co-develop innovative solutions to the challenges.
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To economic development agencies: Actively consider how local economies and education and training can play a central role in re-population strategies and support the long-term vitality of rural areas.
The Report is published here: https://glenkens.scot/reports-resources-archive/education-and-learning-in-the-glenkens
