Agenda item

Reference was made to article 5 of the minute of its special meeting of 28 October 2010, at which time the secondary school estate had been under review and it had been agreed, amongst other things, that the catchment areas of Aberdeen Grammar School and Harlaw Academy would be redefined to maximise the number of in-zone pupils attending the schools, enabling a more equitable and efficient distribution of pupils across this and adjacent schools.  The Committee had agreed at its meeting on 24 March, 2011 (article 7 of that minute refers) that this would be included in the comprehensive review of the primary school estate, and had also instructed that in future, officers avoid undertaking consultation over the school holiday period.

The Committee now had before it a report by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sought approval to begin a comprehensive public engagement exercise with a view to informing the long-term School Estate Plan which would reflect the changes in demographics, school capacity and the Local Development Plan.  The report also highlighted some immediate and pressing concerns as regards likely over capacity in schools during the next school session, and made recommendations in this regard.

A revised version of the report had been circulated the previous day to Committee members.

An appendix to the report outlined the key issues and challenges in conducting the primary school estate review.

The revised report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       instruct officers to undertake a public engagement exercise over summer and autumn 2012, with a view to developing a long term School Estate Plan, which will include proposals on rezoning; rationalisation and development of the school estate to take account of changing demographic factors and the implications of the Local Development Plan across the city;

(b)       agree proposed solutions to address areas of immediate concern in relation to seven primary schools which are projected to go over capacity during the next school session beginning August 2012 which are set out in section 5. In the case of Seaton 3Rs School, it is essential that adult learning provision is retained and it is therefore proposed that the adult learning room is relocated from the first floor to a similar sized area on the ground floor, adjacent to the other community facilities. This will require some minor works to allow this to take place, the detail of which would be agreed in conjunction with the Seaton Community Management Committee;

(c)        note the key data and major challenges relating to the School Estate, (as set out in appendix 2 to the report);

(d)       instruct officers to develop a revised methodology for the evaluation of primary school capacities, taking account of government guidance on the impact of lower class sizes for composite classes and Primary one classes in regeneration areas; and

(e)       instruct officers to bring back a further report, summarising the feedback from the engagement exercise, and setting out detailed options and recommendations for a long-term School Estate Plan to the November 2012 Education, Culture and Sport Committee meeting.

In accordance with the decision at article 3 to hear the deputation on this item, the Committee heard Mr Hamish Mackay who referred to the proposals in the report as they related to Seaton Primary School, stated that there had not been sufficient consultation on these, explained that the community facilities at Seaton had been kept separate from the 3Rs school to ensure the safety and security of children and that under the proposals this would no longer be the case, and highlighted the negative impact this would have on the Seaton project.

Officers responded to questions from members on (1) the proposed solutions to address the likelihood of overcapacity in a number of primary schools; and (2) the timetable for a public engagement exercise on rezoning, rationalisation and development of the school estate.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved –

(a)               that the recommendations in the report be approved, subject to (1) the public engagement exercise beginning from August, 2012, rather than over the school holidays; and (2) the cap of 18 in primaries 1 and 1/2 at St Peter’s School being removed;

(b)               that officers be instructed to take on board the feedback provided by members during the meeting on the secondary school estate consultation exercise carried out in 2010, so as to ensure that the process for consultation on the primary school estate is improved; and

(c)               that officers be instructed to ensure that maps pertaining to the current school zones be issued to all councillors as soon as possible.

Councillor Noble, seconded by Councillor Townson, moved as an amendment –

that a temporary classroom unit be installed at St Peter’s School instead of removing the cap in primaries 1 and 1/2, and that the costs of doing so be met from either the Education, Culture and Sport budget or, should this not be possible upon further investigation by officers, Council reserves in which case the matter would be submitted for approval to the Finance and Resources Committee.

On a division there voted – for the motion (16) – Convener, Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Crockett, Lesley Dunbar, Greig, Malik, Jennifer Stewart, Taylor and Young; and Mr P. Campbell, Mr M. Maclean, Mr A. Nicoll and Mrs I. Wischik; for the amendment (8) - Councillors Cameron, Kiddie, McCaig, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson; and Mr M. Paul.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion, whereupon Councillors Cameron, Kiddie, McCaig, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson intimated their dissent in terms of Standing Order 15(6).