City schools: three options tabled

A report will go to a special Education, Children and Families Committee on Thursday, (29 March) with parent councils and other groups from all the schools and communities involved invited to share any final views and comments on the options.

There have been 23 engagement events including school workshops, community council meetings, drop in sessions and presentations. Over 1,000 online forms have currently been completed via the dedicated schools review page on the Council website.

The report includes an analysis of the published proposal and the three new alternative options which have been developed following all the feedback from schools and communities over the previous four months. It contains details of attainment and inclusion, size of school and the impact on attainment, the future proofing and investment in the school estate, maximising community facilities and travel – all issues that were raised frequently during the consultation.

The consultation finishes on 29 March and following the committee meeting officers will review the options and then take a further report to the next meeting on 22 May.  This report will recommend which, if any, proposals should go forward to a statutory consultation.

Councillor Ian Perry, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: “I firstly want to thank everyone who has participated in the numerous consultation events and taken time to send in their comments through our website.

“The feedback has helped us establish what is important to parents and the community and has resulted in us identifying the four options which will be discussed by the Education, Children and Families Committee next week.

“I want to stress that no decisions will be taken at that special meeting but it does allow the Councillors an opportunity to hear at first hand the views of various members of the community on these proposals and any other ideas they may have.

“A further report will come back to committee on 22 May which will recommend which, if any, proposals should go out to statutory consultation.”

Councillor Alison Dickie, Vice Convener said: “We promised to take on board the feedback from parents and communities during the informal consultation period and that is what we have done with this report.

“There are now three alternative options for consideration which all include some detail on the various issues that arose during our meetings such as attainment, size of schools, community facilities, investment in the school estate and travel plans.

“We fully understand the strength of feeling generated by this consultation and I want to thank everyone who taken part which has greatly helped us shape these latest options.”

The public can still submit their feedback on the Council website until 5pm on Thursday 29 March.

The options are as follows:

Published Proposal

• A new south west Edinburgh High School would be created in a new building on a single site.  The new school would have capacity for 1,200 pupils.
• Juniper Green, along with Nether Currie, Canal View and Clovenstone Primary Schools would feed to the new South West Edinburgh School.
• Potential sites identified for a new school include:
  • Curriemuirend Park;
  • North Baberton;
  • Murrayburn Depot;
• Sighthill Primary School would be realigned with Forrester High School (it currently feeds to WHEC).
• Balerno High School would expand from an 850 pupil capacity to a 1,200 pupil capacity to accommodate Currie Primary School.
• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.
• Ratho Primary School would be realigned with a new high school in West Edinburgh.  The new school would have capacity for 1,400 pupils.
• Potential sites identified for a new West Edinburgh school include:
  • Ratho Station;
  • International Business Gateway (IBG);
• Kirkliston Primary School, Hillwood Primary School and a new Maybury Primary School would feed to the new West Edinburgh School.
• Following feedback from the informal consultation Woodlands School would be co-located with new south west Edinburgh High School.

Alternative Option 1

• No change to Forrester High School catchment or building capacity.
• No change to WHEC catchment or building capacity.
• Cherry Trees/Newmills area of Currie High School catchment is realigned with Balerno High School.
• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.
• Balerno High School expands to 1,000 pupil capacity. Dean Park, Kirknewton and Ratho remain the feeder primary schools.
• Currie High School expands to 1,000 pupil capacity. Currie, Nether Currie and Juniper Green remain the feeder primary schools.
• Kirkliston Primary School, Hillwood Primary School and a new Maybury Primary School would feed to the new West Edinburgh School.  The new school would have capacity for 1,200 pupils.
• Alternative sites for a new high school in and around Kirkliston require further consideration before any statutory consultation is progressed.

Alternative Option 2

• No change to Forrester High School catchment or building capacity.
• All WHEC feeders (Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill Primaries) would feed to a new South West Edinburgh School.  The new school would have capacity for 900 pupils.
• Juniper Green Primary School would be realigned with a new South West Edinburgh School (it currently feeds to Currie HS).
• Cherry Trees/Newmills area would remain in Currie High School catchment.
• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.
• Balerno High School expands to 900 pupil capacity. Dean Park, Kirknewton and Ratho continue to be feeder primary schools.
• Currie High School reduced to 800 pupil capacity. Currie and Nether Currie continue to be feeder primary schools.
• Kirkliston Primary School and Hillwood Primary School would feed to one of the new West Edinburgh Schools.  The new school would have and initial capacity for 600 pupils but would be extendable. Alternative sites for a new high school in and around Kirkliston require further consideration before any statutory consultation is progressed.
• A second high school to accommodate pupils from the new Maybury Primary School and any future primary school which may emerge as a result of further housing sites in this area which gain planning approval is suggested in this option. The new school would have and initial capacity for 600 pupils but would be extendable.

Alternative Option 3

• Secondary education would no longer be provided at WHEC but a community hub would be retained.
• Canal View and Clovenstone Primary Schools would feed to Currie High School (rebuilt/expanded on its existing site or if feasible an alternative site in a more central location within the catchment).
• Sighthill Primary School would be realigned with Forrester High School.
• Cherry Trees/Newmills area of Currie High School catchment is realigned with Balerno High School.
• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.
• Currie High School expands to 1,600 pupil capacity. Two site options. Woodlands school relocated if site option 2 progressed.
• Balerno High School expands to 1,000 pupil capacity. Dean Park, Kirknewton and Ratho continue to be feeder primary schools.
• Kirkliston Primary School, Hillwood Primary School and a new Maybury Primary School would feed to the new West Edinburgh School.  The new school would have capacity for 1,200 pupils.
• Alternative sites for a new high school in and around Kirkliston require further consideration before any statutory consultation is progressed.