Moray councillors voted against declaring an education emergency on November 25, 2023, despite concerns over what some members described as an “existential crisis” in local education. The narrow decision came during an education committee meeting where Councillor Sandy Keith of Elgin City North put forth a motion to formally request immediate action from the local authority.
The motion arose in response to a report highlighting alarming secondary school attainment rates in Moray, which have seen significant declines over the past five years. When the motion was put to a vote, it was defeated by a narrow margin of eight votes to five.
The report revealed that only 53 percent of S4 pupils in Moray achieved a National 5 literacy and numeracy qualification, a figure that falls significantly below the Scottish average. Additionally, data indicated that Moray pupils’ performance in the 2025 exam results was poorer than the previous year’s cohort across nearly all qualification levels, except for one.
Concerns Raised Over Educational Standards
During the meeting, the gravity of the findings prompted the council to invite Chief Executive Karen Greaves to participate in the discussions. Councillor Sandy Keith expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of education, stating he had “zero assurance” that improvements were underway. Fellow councillor Derek Ross, an Independent representing Speyside Glenlivet, emphasized the importance of getting education right for students, asserting, “If we get it wrong we are failing them.”
Councillor Donald Gatt, representing Keith and Cullen, urged the council to acknowledge the need for external support and suggested involving Education Scotland in the process. In response, Chief Executive Karen Greaves confirmed that she was already in discussions with the organization and would expedite those meetings.
Teaching union representative Susan Slater highlighted that the current attainment issues in Moray are a shared responsibility. She pointed out that the councillors were “fundamentally missing the point,” stressing that the improvement plan developed by teachers in the report differed significantly from previous approaches.
Year-on-Year Decline in Performance
Councillor Derek Ross clarified that the council was not blaming teaching staff for the decline, yet he acknowledged that the situation has been deteriorating annually. This sentiment reflects a growing concern among local educators and officials about the future of education in the region.
As Moray faces these educational challenges, the rejection of the emergency declaration highlights differing opinions among councillors regarding the urgency of the situation. With a significant number of students falling short of basic literacy and numeracy qualifications, the council must navigate a complex landscape to ensure that no child is left behind in their educational journey.
The ongoing discussions and future actions taken by Moray Council will be critical in determining the direction of local education and its impact on students and the community at large.
