Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located at the following link:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=504&MId=5574&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Convener advised the Committee of the following good news story –

·         Kingswells School – Digital School

Kingswells School had gained national ‘Digital School’ status for excellence in digital technology in teaching and learning. The school was one of 21 primary schools officially awarded the honour of being recognised as the first digital schools in Scotland in a special ceremony held at Wormit Primary School in Fife.

Recognised by Education Scotland and supported by HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intel, the Digital Schools Award was designed to promote, encourage and reward schools that made the best use of digital technology in the classroom. On behalf of the Committee, the Convener congratulated the staff and pupils at Kingswells School on a fantastic achievement. She explained that it was marvellous to see yet another Aberdeen school receive national recognition for innovation in learning. In the last few months alone, the city had seen Kingswells, Woodside and Middleton Park schools win prestigious national recognition for their creative approaches to learning. They were all great examples of the flexible and engaging curriculum provided for pupils across the city.

The Committee had before it a request for deputation from the Parent Council of St Peter’s RC Primary School in respect of item 2.2 on today’s agenda (article 4 refers) which had been submitted in terms of Standing Order 10(1).

The Committee resolved:

to agree to hear the request for deputation from the Parent Council of St Peter’s RC Primary School immediately prior to consideration of item 2.2 on the agenda.

With reference to article 14 of the minute of the meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 8 September 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which presented the outcome of a recent statutory consultation on the proposals to create a new primary school with early education and childcare facilities in Torry.

The report recommended –

that the Committee agree to instruct the Director of Education and Children’s Committee to implement the following proposals:

1.         to amend the existing school zones of Tullos School and Walker Road School by rezoning the area of ground south of Balnagask Road which was currently within the zone of Walker Road School to the Tullos School zone, with effect from the start of the 2017/18 academic session on 22 August 2017;

2.         to amend the existing school zones of Tullos School and Walker Road School by rezoning the following ground to a new, third Primary School  in Torry with effect from the start of the 2020/21 academic session in August 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter:

·         ground to the north and east of houses on Brimmond Place;

·         north and east of Balnagask Road from Brimmond Place;

·         east of Oscar Road from Morven Place to Glenbervie Road;

·         north and east of Grampian Road from Glenbervie Road to Victoria Road; and

·         north and east of Victoria Road from Grampian Road to Victoria Bridge;

3.         to locate and construct the proposed new Primary School, early education and childcare facilities and Community Hub on the site of the existing Torry Academy, once education provision at Torry Academy had ceased and pupils were relocated to the new Lochside Academy, with effect from the start of the 2018/19 academic session on 21 August 2018, or as soon as possible thereafter; and

4.         that the new Primary School, early education and childcare facilities and Community Hub was operational with effect from the start of the 2020/21 academic session in August 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Committee resolved:

(i)            to approve the recommendations;

(ii)          to instruct the Director of Education and Children’s Services to write to the Scottish Government inviting them to contribute 100% funding towards the early learning and child care provisions of the project; and

(iii)         to instruct the Director of Education and Children’s Services to apply for a Regeneration Capital Grant, as soon as applications were open, to contribute towards developing a community hub in Torry.

(A)        In terms of Standing Order 10(2), the Committee received a deputation from Ms Stephanie Brock, on behalf of the Parent Council of St Peter’s RC Primary School.

On behalf of the Parent Council of St Peter’s RC Primary School, Ms Brock thanked the Committee for its consideration of the proposed changes to primary education in the Tillydrone/Old Aberdeen area, and its continued pursuit of the best possible outcome for St Peter’s RC Primary School.

Ms Brock provided an overview of the long history St Peter’s RC Primary School had at its current site and highlighted that the reputation and location of St Peter’s had attracted more and more pupils, with the result that St Peter’s had been operating at 130% capacity. Thereafter, she reminded the Committee that St Peter’s RC School was one of only two Grade C or ‘Poor’ condition schools in Aberdeen City and she provided examples of the condition of the accommodation and the impact this had on the allocation of Pupil Support Assistants.

In terms of the recommendation in respect of St Peter’s RC School contained in the report before the Committee, she explained that the Parent Council had proactively engaged both with its school community and with Aberdeen City Council’s officers since 11 March 2016 to reach the recommendation proposed and that the Parent Council felt this reflected the needs of the children and school staff better than the options which were formally consulted on in November/December 2016.

However, the Parent Council was disappointed with the lack of concrete detail relating to the school’s future contained in the proposal, specifically about the processes needed to make the recommendation contained therein a reality. Therefore, the Parent Council urgently requested more detail on how exactly the short-term capacity issues at St Peter’s Primary School would be addressed, as well as how the other structural improvements promised to be undertaken for August 2016, would be in place when the school returns in August 2017.

The Parent Council also asked that Committee commission a budget and a schedule for the necessary short-term improvements to be carried out as a matter of urgent priority and emphasised that the onus was on the Council officers, instructed by the Committee, to progress the vision so that parents would know by the summer term in binding detail (a) the scope of the works to be completed over the summer holidays; and (b) a programme for 2017 to progress the long-term plans for the delivery of a new school after 2020.

The Committee asked a number of questions of Ms Brock and thereafter thanked Ms Brock for her contribution.

(B)       With reference to article 10 of the minute of the meeting of full Council of 6 October 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which presented the outcome of a recent statutory consultation on the proposals to create new primary school provision with early education and childcare facilities in Tillydrone.

The report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which sought approval for the name of the new special school housed within the Centre of Excellence.  The new school would replace Woodlands Special School, Hazlewood Special School and the Pre-School ASN Provision currently located within Seaton School.

The report recommended –

that the Committee

(a)       note the engagement with pupils, parents, staff and wider community to find a name for the new school and the scores registered for each shortlisted name; and

(b)       agree that, following the result of the consultation, the school be called Orchard Brae.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

Councillor Nicoll noted that this was the last meeting of the Committee prior to the forthcoming local government elections, and thanked the Convener for her time and efforts during her time as Convener.

- COUNCILLOR ANGELA TAYLOR, Convener