Agenda item

Consider report by Interim Service Director Children & Young People (copy attached).

2.1       With reference to paragraph 15 of the Council Minute of 29 November 2018 and paragraph 12 of the Executive Minute of 16 April 2019, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Interim Service Director, Children and Young People, providing an update on workstreams within the context of the School Estate Review.  Lead Education Officer – School Estates, Lesley Munro, highlighted the main points of the report which offered a broad overview of key aspects within each area.  Individual reports would continue to be presented where appropriate.  With regard to the recommendations approved by Executive Committee with respect to Eyemouth and Earlston Primary Schools, there would be consultations held during the coming months with the respective communities to examine both the design and cluster elements of these projects.  In terms of the High Schools, initial meetings had taken place in Galashiels and Hawick with Headteachers and parent representatives.  Views were expressed in both towns that there were too many schools and that plans to rationalise and improve condition and suitability would be welcome.  To encourage engagement in ongoing consultations, proposals for discussion would make suggestions on the potential number of sites or campuses, locations, likely size and scale of future provisions and considerations for rural schools.  With regard to mothballed schools, formal consultations were underway on proposals to close the 3 schools currently mothballed in Ettrick, Bonchester Bridge (Hobkirk) and Eccles/Leitholm.  The report detailed projects for Early Years Expansion across the primary school estate to accommodate the additional numbers which would result from the Early Learning and Childcare expansion plan.  With regard to the Jedburgh Campus, work was progressing and plans to bring the primary schools together in August were well advanced.  In line with the principles of ‘Fit for 2024’ it was important that the review of the school estate was ongoing and responsive.  The output of all the work to date was being collated into a new School Estate Management Plan which would be presented to the Executive Committee for approval.

2.2       Members welcomed the positive report and proposals for significant investment in the school estate going forward.  In response to a question about added value of individual projects, Ms Munro explained that there would be wider discussions with partners and local consultation to look at all opportunities for co-location and provision of complementary services.  Members stressed that this was particularly important in smaller settlements where there were currently no community facilities available and stressed the importance of involving the community council and local residents in discussions at an early stage.  Ms Munro advised that a list of primary schools which had been identified for investment would be shared once this was finalised.  With regard to the consultations about Galashiels and Hawick High Schools, Ms Munro agreed to the request from parent representative Ms Ferahi to provide a schedule of consultation dates before the end of term so that parents could be mobilised.  In answer to questions about small schools with reducing pupil role, Ms Strong advised that there was no exact threshold in terms of numbers, the focus being on educational benefit of the provision.  However once numbers dropped to a single class size it appeared that parents’ confidence faltered and there tended to be migration away to a larger school which may meet a wider spectrum of need. In recognising the importance of the rural school within the community the Council engaged with parents and looked at ways of helping to maintain the sustainability of schools once the school role fell below 50. Catchment areas were also being reviewed; for example the catchment area around Yarrow Primary School, which was the subject of a separate report. 

DECISION

(a)          NOTED the update on workstreams within the context of the School Estate Review.

(b)          AGREED:-

(i)           to approve the actions proposed as next steps for consultation in Galashiels and Hawick; and

(ii)       that the School Estate Management Plan be brought to the Executive Committee within six months.