Agenda item

With reference to article 3 of the minute of its meeting of 7 February 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, which provided members with an interim position on the review of denominational primary schools in the City.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note:

(a)       the Council’s continuing commitment to denominational education and to the securing of an appropriate and sustainable school estate for denominational provision;

(b)       in respect of St Peter’s Primary:

(1)       the constraints of the existing physical accommodation and site of the school;

(2)       that work would continue to develop a sustainable solution to this situation;

(3)       that wider discussions between Council Directorates would continue in order to review the medium to long term implications for all Council Services on the existing site; and

(4)       that discussions were continuing regarding suitable long term solutions and that these options would be reported to a future Committee.

(c)        in respect of St Joseph’s Primary, officers were requested to:

(1)          progress the negotiation of a short term extension to leasing arrangements for the property at Queens Road in order to secure use of the property beyond the end of the current lease in 2015;

(2)          explore longer term implications of accessibility issues at the school; and

(3)          explore whole life costs in respect of longer term leasing of the property.

(d)       that in respect of all issues, officers:

(1)          continue to liaise with Parent Councils; and

(2)          continue to consult with the Bishop of Aberdeen on all of the matters outlined in the report.

The Convener noted at this juncture that the above recommendations should be agreed by the Committee, rather than noted as specified in the report.

The Committee resolved:

(i)        to approve the Council’s continuing commitment to denominational education and to the securing of an appropriate and sustainable school estate for denominational provision;

(ii)       to agree in respect of St Peter’s Primary, to note:

(a)       the constraints of the existing physical accommodation and site of the school;

(b)       that work would continue to develop a sustainable solution to this situation;

(c)       that wider discussions between Council Directorates would continue in order to review the medium to long term implications for all Council Services on the existing site; and

(d)       that discussions were continuing regarding suitable long term solutions and that these options would be reported to a future meeting of the Committee;

(iii)       toagree in respect of St Joseph’s Primary, to request officers to:

(a)       progress the negotiation of a short term extension to leasing arrangements for the property at Queens Road in order to secure use of the property beyond the end of the current lease in 2015;

(b)       explore longer term implications of accessibility issues at the school; and

(c)       explore whole life costs in respect of longer term leasing of the property;

(iv)       to agree that in respect of all issues, officers continue to liaise with Parent Councils and consult with the Bishop of Aberdeen on all of the matters outlined in the report;

(v)        to request officers to review the prospectuses of denominational schools to ensure that they clearly advise that attendance at the school does not qualify them for attendance at any particular secondary school;

(vi)       to request officers to advise the Committee, by email, of the number of non Catholics attending denominational schools.