Moray councillors voted against declaring an education emergency during a meeting on November 25, 2023. The decision came in response to claims of an “existential crisis” in local education, particularly concerning poor secondary school attainment rates. The motion was proposed by Councillor Sandy Keith (Elgin City North, Labour), who urged the council to make a political appeal for assistance as they reviewed a report highlighting alarming educational statistics.
The report revealed that only 53 percent of S4 pupils in Moray achieved a National 5 literacy and numeracy qualification, significantly lower than the Scottish average. Furthermore, it indicated that Moray pupils performed worse in the 2025 exam results compared to the previous year’s cohort at nearly all qualification levels, with the exception of one. When the motion to declare an education emergency was put to a vote, it was defeated by a margin of eight votes to five.
The urgency surrounding the meeting led to the presence of Chief Executive Karen Greaves, who was called upon to address the council regarding the critical report. Councillor Keith expressed his disappointment, stating he had “zero assurance” that conditions were improving. His concerns echoed those of Councillor Derek Ross (Speyside Glenlivet, Independent), who emphasized that students have only one opportunity to succeed in their education. He remarked, “If we get it wrong, we are failing them.”
Councillor Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen, Conservative) urged the council to acknowledge the need for external support, suggesting they involve Education Scotland in addressing the crisis. In response, Chief Executive Greaves confirmed that she was already in discussions with the organization and would expedite those talks.
The discussion also included input from teaching union representative Susan Slater, who highlighted the collective responsibility for the current state of pupil attainment. She criticized the councillors for potentially overlooking the innovative aspects of the teacher-developed improvement plan, which differed from previous plans. Councillor Ross clarified that the council was not placing blame on teaching staff but noted that the situation has been deteriorating annually.
As Moray faces significant challenges within its educational framework, the rejection of the emergency motion has raised concerns about the future direction of local schools and the support necessary for improvement. The council’s decision underscores the complex dynamics between local governance and educational accountability, as the community grapples with the implications of these recent findings.
