Today I and others received a letter from Aberdeenshire Council about the provision of education in Portlethen, and in particular the building and opening a primary school in Hillside, a controversial issue. I have copied below the letter from Craig Clement, the council’s head of resources & performance. Read on …

Hillside School

At the outset, I would acknowledge that a delay in opening the new school is regrettable. I fully appreciate the disappointment for pupils, parents, staff and the wider community that the building will not be completed by August 2016. I have received a number of requests for information which I set out below:-

Timescale for building Hillside School

Significant work has been undertaken regarding the provision of a new school. A detailed plan for the new building has been agreed (following consultation), a contractor appointed and budget has been agreed for the project. This preparation would have allowed the school to open in August 2016. However, due to the delay referred to below, the Council is now expecting work to begin on site in late 2015. This will result in the new school being completed during the 2016/17 school session, hopefully before the end of the end of the calendar year 2016.

Reason for Delay

Aberdeenshire Council is very disappointed that the completion of the new school has been delayed. This delay has been caused by issues with the acquisition of and obtaining access to the site. Council officers have been working diligently to ensure that all necessary preparations, including legal agreements and associated works are completed to allow the building of the school to commence timeously. The Council are taking active steps to engage with those third parties causing the delay to comply with their obligations

Contingency Planning

Understandably there is some concern over the impact the delay of the new school will have. However, over the coming months, in consultation with parents and the wider community, we will continue to plan for the opening of the new school. In particular, a Head Teacher will be appointed; stakeholder groups will meet; parents and pupils will be consulted on the name for the new school, pupils will be involved in designing a logo for the new school and deciding the colour of the school jumper.

The new catchment areas for the Portlethen network will be effective from August 2016. A report on the consultation exercise will be considered by the Education, Learning and Leisure Committee in Autumn 2015. While estimated pupil numbers are already available, in January 2016 through the P1 admission process, we will have definite numbers of the P1s who will be attending the new school. We will also be asking all parents residing in the catchment area for the new school (and whose children are already in primary school) whether they intend to move their children to the new school when it opens. I would emphasise that there is no requirement for children to move, but many families may choose to do so.

In August, 2016, there will be an opportunity for the classes for the new school to be formed, and pupils taught by their ‘new teacher(s)’. This will take place in Portlethen, with actual location(s) being dependent on actual numbers and further discussion with parents and school staff. The position will be confirmed in sufficient time for parents to make any necessary arrangements. The children will be able to wear the uniform of the new school rather than that of the ‘host’ school. When the new building is completed, and is ready to open, the teachers will take their classes to the new school in a managed way, with minimal disruption to learning & teaching.

Meeting in Private

Concern has been raised about the recent report heard in private at the Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee, with a suggestion that there is something that the Council is trying to hide. This report related to the consideration and acceptance of the tenders submitted for building the new school. This report contained commercially sensitive data, and because of the relatively small number of companies that submitted a tender bid, it would have been possible for them to have identified what price their competitors submitted. This information is classed as exempt under Schedule 7a to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and therefore the paper needed to be heard in private.

Portlethen School Over Capacity / Not fit for purpose

Many comments have been made about Portlethen Primary School being over capacity, or not fit for purpose with suggestions that the children are being crammed in to inadequate spaces.

Portlethen Primary School has 16 classroom spaces available for teaching, including those in the temporary accommodation. The roll of the school has recently been capped at 16 classes, and once that upper limit has been reached and those classes are full, no additional pupils will be enrolled at the school. Notwithstanding this, all P1 pupils who are in zone and have applied to the school have been given a place for the next session. The size of individual classes is also capped, so there will not be more children than is permitted by legislative regulation in each single class. P1 classes will have a maximum of 25 pupils. Single stage classes in P2 and P3 will have a maximum of 30 pupils, and single stage classes from P4 to P7 will have a maximum of 33 pupils. Composite classes (more than one stage in the same class) are capped at 25 pupils.

Prior to 2013, the capacity of Portlethen Primary School was set at 475. A cap of 16 classes allows for a range of 415 to 442 pupils depending upon class composition. The roll for the start of the 2015 session is currently expected to be 419 pupils.

Enhanced Provision

Some comments were made about the changes to enhanced provision in the Portlethen Primary network. These potential changes are at consultation stage as it is essential parents and the wider community have an opportunity to contribute to how these services are provided. The aim is to improve provision for pupils and these proposals will not have any impact on available classroom space at the school.

Early Years

Currently all eligible children whose parents have applied for Early Learning and Childcare have been allocated a place within the Portlethen network. For session 2015/16 we anticipate that there will be sufficient places for all eligible children within the 8 settings that serve the Portlethen network.

Capacity at Portlethen Academy

A number of parents have also raised concerns about the capacity at Portlethen Academy. The capacity is currently set at 940 pupils. Based upon the number of pupils already in the primary system, and the number houses due to be built, the school is forecast to stay within capacity until 2020. We monitor the rolls of primary and secondary schools regularly and so if this position changes we will be able to respond in sufficient time. The capacity of all 17 Aberdeenshire secondary schools is currently under review (as primary capacities were reviewed in 2013). The introduction of the National 4 and 5 qualifications has resulted in a change to the way classes are timetabled. The capacity of Portlethen Academy may change as a result of this review, and the changes to timetabling and until this is completed later in 2015, we would not be committing to further extensions of any existing secondary schools.

In conclusion, I would reiterate the delay is disappointing. However, Aberdeenshire Council is committed to resolving issues as quickly as possible, albeit this is subject to other parties completing enabling works. Notwithstanding this, contingency plans are in place and we are committed to engaging with parents/carers and the wider community to ensure we minimise any disruption.

It is proposed to have a stakeholder meeting on 17 June (more details will be provided in due course), which will provide an opportunity to share more information and for questions to be raised.