New School Build
Consultation
What are we consulting you on?
The Moray Council have engaged Hub North Scotland and a Design Team to start work on designs for a new Forres Academy.
One of the first steps is to decide where the building should go. From a longlist of five possible sites, three have been shortlisted as suitable locations for the new Forres Academy.
This consultation is to share those three options and present our ‘Place Based Review’ which assesses each option against the project’s Strategy & SMART objectives.
You can view the potential site options here.
Once you have had a chance to look at the options please email comments or questions directly to learningestate@moray.gov.uk
This is just the first step in the consultation process to gauge an initial response to the 3 site options. Further public consultation will occur and this page will be updated regularly with details.
FAQ's
We shared the news in November 2022 that Forres Academy was our priority school to receive Scottish Government Learning Estate Improvement Programme (LEIP) 3 funding. We also submitted a bid for funding for Buckie High School. We’re awaiting the outcome of that application process to find out if we’ve been successful and will receive part of the funding for a new secondary school in Forres.
While we don’t know the outcome yet work is progressing on the consultation and engagement exercises within the Forres Community ahead of any options or design being drawn up. This work has started with school staff and continues w/c 18 September with parent and community councils and the wider community.
The Scottish Government has indicated they'll now be considering LEIP 3 funding bids with RAAC in mind. As Forres Academy was our priority when our bid was submitted in November 2022 it remains so.
Moray Council’s Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee decided on Tuesday 19 September to progress both Forres Academy and Buckie High School quicker by accelerating the Outline Business Case approval and bring in external consultants to move the initial stages (i.e. planning) on to be as ready as possible when any funding announcement is made.
Update 30 October
The LEIP 3 funding bid for Forres Academy has now been approved by the Scottish Governmenent. The programme aims to see the new built school open to pupils by August 2027.
Consultation on the future Forres Academy build will continue over the next 3 months. Future updates and information will be shared on this web page in due course.
Contact Us
Moray Council Learning Estate Team
Council Office
High Street
Elgin
IV30 1BX
01343 563374