Agenda item

With reference to article 3 of the minute of the meeting of the former Education, Culture and Sport Committee of 7 February 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which advised on the outcome of recent statutory consultations on the proposals to create new school zones at Countesswells and at Loirston / Cove, in preparation for the creation of new schools which were planned as part of forthcoming housing developments in these areas of the city.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       agree to implement the following proposals:

1.         For the Countesswells rezoning proposal:

(a)     to create a new primary school zone to serve primary education provision in the Countesswells development, with effect from August 2016;

(b)     to create a new secondary school zone to serve secondary education provision in the Countesswells development, with effect from August 2016, and to include the zone of Kingswells School within the zone of the new secondary school, with effect from the time of opening of the new school; and

(c)     to put in place arrangements for interim education provision until a primary school and a secondary school were constructed within the Countesswells development. For secondary pupils from Countesswells this would involve the use of Hazlehead Academy until a new secondary school had been constructed. For primary school pupils from Countesswells the arrangements would be as follows:

·            pupils living in the new Countesswells primary school zone would be registered at a new school from the outset;

·            whilst the number of pupils registered to the new school remained at 25 or below, the new school would operate from a separate classroom within the Airyhall School building;

·            when the number of pupils registered to the new school exceeded 25, all of these pupils and any new pupils subsequently moving into the new Countesswells primary school zone would be educated from the Braeside School building, until a new school building at Countesswells has opened; and

·            whilst the new school was operating from the Airyhall building and subsequently from the Braeside building, places at the new school would be reserved entirely for children living within the new Countesswells school zone.

(d)     in the unlikely event that the Countesswells housing development did not go ahead, then the existing school zone arrangements would prevail;

2.         For the Loirston / Cove rezoning proposal:

(a)     to create a new primary school zone to serve primary education provision in the South-East of the City, including the new housing development in the Loirston / Cove area, with effect from August 2016;

(b)     to amend the existing Charleston School, Kirkhill School, and Abbotswell School zones to contribute to the proposed new school zone;

(c)     to rezone an area of the existing Kirkhill School zone, east of the A956 trunk road, to the Loirston School zone; and

(d)     in the unlikely event that the Loirston / Cove housing development does not go ahead, then the existing school zone arrangements would prevail; and

(b)       instruct officers to make the necessary arrangements to ensure successful implementation of the above recommendations by the indicated times.

At this juncture the Committee received legal advice regarding the competency of the recommendations proposed in respect of the Countesswells rezoning following the statutory consultation process which had been undertaken.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Yuill moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations in the report.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Townson moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       agree to implement the following proposals for the Countesswells rezoning:

(a)     to create a new primary school zone to serve primary education provision in the Countesswells development, with effect from August 2016;

(b)     to create a new secondary school zone to serve secondary education provision in the Countesswells development, with effect from August 2016, and to include the zone of Kingswells School within the zone of the new secondary school, with effect from the time of opening of the new school;

(c)     request officers as a matter of urgency undertake a review of the cost implications and work that was necessary to be undertaken in order to potentially open Braeside Primary School to pupils in August 2016 and to report back to this Committee in May 2016;

(d)     should (c) above, not be achievable, request officers as a matter of urgency to make contingency arrangements for the education of pupils from the new Countesswells development;

(e)     request officers to put in place interim education provision until a new secondary school was constructed within the Countesswells development for secondary pupils from Countesswells that involved the use of Hazlehead Academy until a  new secondary school had been constructed; and

(f)      in the event that the Countesswells housing development did not go ahead as scheduled to undertake an urgent review of accommodation provision at Airyhall Primary School; and

(2)       approve the recommendations as proposed for the Loirston / Cove rezoning.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (15) – the Convener; the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Carle, Cooney, Lesley Dunbar, Greig, Ironside CBE, Laing, Malik, Yuill and Young and Angela Bowyer, Anthony Rafferty and Irene Wischik; for the amendment (7) – Councillors Copland, Hutchison, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Sandy Stuart and Townson.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to adopt the motion; and

(ii)        to request officers to submit a report detailing the costs of opening the Braeside building to a future meeting of the Committee.