Craigroyston community meeting cancelled

Tomorow’s Craigroyston Community Centre meeting has been postponed as rooms in the school’s community wing are being used by displaced primary school classes.

Craigroyston Community Centre chairperson Vanessa Cousins said: “We are having to reschedule the meeting planned for the 18th as Craigroyston Primary are having to use the rooms due to the problems with the schools in the area. We as the community are fully supporting this measure and are more than happy to help and change plans for the children. We will let you know the revised date.”

The Craigroyston group recently announced that the committee plans to mount a campaign to save community facilities in the Pennywell Road school, which they say are under threat once again.

PPPP High School closures: what’s happening next week

Current plans for next week are:

ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL

S1 and S2 students

S1 and S2 students should return to school at 9:40am on Tuesday 19 April. Students should report to the old front door beside the assembly hall. Please do not enter through any other school entrances.

S1 and S2 classes will be accommodated in temporary units that are being installed in the school grounds this weekend (16 and 17 April, above).

S3, S4, S5 and S6 students

The arrangements currently in place for S3 to S6 students will continue.

SQA update

Positive discussions have been taking place with the Scottish Qualifications Authority who have agreed that verification and examining visits for all subjects that were due to take place this week have been postponed and will be rescheduled with individual schools.

We will update students when we have more information.

Local PPP Primary Schools: info for next week

This is the latest information we have on next week’s arrangements:

CRAIGROYSTON

Nursery

Nursery children should attend the school on Tuesday 19 April.

Parents should bring morning pupils to Craigroyston High School reception at 08:45am and collect from the same place at 11:20am.

Parents should bring afternoon pupils to Craigroyston High School reception at 12:05pm and collect from the same place at 2:40pm.

Class	Teacher	Temporary location	Phone	Transport
AM	Mrs Cross, Mrs McCabe and Mrs Chatir/Miss Porteous	Cramond Primary School, Cramond Crescent, EH4 6PG	312 6450	Bus
AM	Mrs Greenhalgh and Mrs Smith	Queensferry Primary School, Burgess Road, South Queensferry, EH30 9NX	331 1349	Bus
PM	Mrs Cross, Mrs McCabe and Mrs Chatir	Cramond Primary School, Cramond Crescent, EH4 6PG	312 6450	Bus
PM	Mrs Greenhalgh and Mrs Smith	Queensferry Primary School, Burgess Road, South Queensferry, EH30 9NX	331 1349	Bus

P1 – P7

We aim to have nursery pupil arrangements in place from Tuesday and further information will follow.

Tuesday 19 April

All pupils should report the main entrance at Craigroyston Community High School at 9:00am. They will again be met by Craigroyston Primary staff.

Pupils should be collected at the following times:

P1 and P2 – 2:30pm
P3-P7 – 3pm

All children will be provided with a free packed lunch.

FORTHVIEW

All P1 to P7 and nursery pupils should report to the West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on West Pilton Grove at their normal time on Tuesday 19 April, where they will be taken by bus to their alternative locations, listed below.

Parents should then collect their children from West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre at normal pick up times.

Lunches and breakfast club

There will be no breakfast club. We will provide free packed lunches for all pupils.

After school club

North Edinburgh Childcare will contact parents directly about arrangements.

Arrangements

Class	Teacher	School	Phone	Transport
P1a	Rona Bean	Granton Primary, Boswall Parkway, EH5 2DA	552 3987	Bus
P1b	Lucy Watson	Granton Primary, Boswall Parkway, EH5 2DA	552 3987	Bus
P2a	Susan Ewing and Morag Robertson	Canal View Primary, 4 Hailesland Place, EH14 2SL	442 3894	Bus
P2b	Fiona Bogie	Canal View Primary, 4 Hailesland Place, EH14 2SL	442 3894	Bus
P3a	Elaine Harvey and Sarah Jordan	Leith Walk Primary, Brunswick Road, EH7 5NG	556 3873	Bus
P3b	Alison Chalmers	Leith Walk Primary, Brunswick Road, EH7 5NG	556 3873	Bus
P4a	Stuart Harris	Leith Walk Primary, Brunswick Road, EH7 5NG	556 3873	Bus
P4b	Alice Jones	Leith Walk Primary, Brunswick Road, EH7 5NG	556 3873	Bus
P5	Damien Couty	Fox Covert Primary, Clerwood Terrace, EH12 8PG	339 3749	Bus
P5/6	Grant Chisholm	Fox Covert Primary, Clerwood Terrace, EH12 8PG	339 2383	Bus
P6	Jude Thomas	Fox Covert Primary, Clerwood Terrace, EH12 8PG	339 2383	Bus
P7a	Niall Heron	Leith Primary, St Andrew’s Place, EH6 7EG	554 4844	Bus
P7b	Sarah Muldoon	Leith Primary, St Andrew’s Place, EH6 7EG	554 4844	Bus
Nursery	Susan Maclennan and Sarah Jordan	Wester Hailes Education Centre, 5 Murrayburn Drive, EH14 2SU	442 2201	Bus
Nursery	Jennifer Taylor	Hope Cottage, Cowan’s Close, East Crosscauseway, EH8 9HF	667 5795	Bus

PIRNIEHALL

P1 to P7

All pupils meet their class teacher on the Astroturf at their normal start time (8.40am) on Tuesday 19 April.

Pupils should be collected from the Astroturf at 3pm.

For the safety of the pupils, please do not park on the streets around the school. You should enter the school by the main gates, drop the children and leave immediately by the side gate. This will help keep the children safe.

Nursery

Morning and afternoon nursery children should report to the Astroturf at their normal times on Tuesday 19 April.

Morning pupils should be collected at 11:40am from the AstroTurf.

Afternoon pupils should be collected from the AstroTurf at 3pm.

Lunches and breakfast club

There will be no breakfast club. We will provide free packed lunches for all pupils.

After school club

North Edinburgh Childcare will contact parents directly about arrangements.

Contact the school

For all absence, and to contact school staff, please call 07570585468 from Tuesday 19 April. Please do not contact host schools directly.

Arrangements

Class	Teacher	School	Phone	Transport
Nursery AM	Lorna Manus	Abbeyhill / Brunstane Primary	661 3054 / 69 4498	Bus
Nursery PM	Lorna Manus	Abbeyhill / Brunstane Primary	661 3054 / 669 4498	Bus
P1A	Jennifer Mann	Abbeyhill Primary, Abbey Street, EH7 5SJ	661 3054	Bus
P1B	Claire Mitchell	Abbeyhill Primary, Abbey Street, EH7 5SJ	661 3054	Bus
P2A	Ann Maguire	Flora Stevenson Primary, Comely Bank, EH4 1BG	332 1604	Bus
P2B	Katie O’Mahony	Wardie Primary, Granton Road, EH5 3NJ	552 3896	Bus
P3A	Sophia Godard	Abbeyhill Primary, Abbey Street, EH7 5SJ	661 3054	Bus
P3B	Rose Hammett	Abbeyhill Primary, Abbey Street, EH7 5SJ	661 3054	Bus
P4A	Fiona Herbert and Anna Arnot	Davidson’s Mains Primary, Corbiehill Road, EH4 5DZ	336 1184	Bus
P4B	Chelsea Tidy	Wardie Primary, Granton Road, EH5 3NJ	552 3896	Bus
P5	Natasha Millar	Wardie Primary, Granton Road, EH5 3NJ	552 3896	Bus
P5/6	Fiona Herbert and Louise Cobban	Davidson’s Mains Primary, Corbiehill Road, EH4 5DZ	336 1184	Bus
P6	James McNeil	Davidson’s Mains Primary, Corbiehill Road, EH4 5DZ	336 1184	Bus
P7A	Joyce Forsyth	Flora Stevenson Primary, Comely Bank, EH4 1BG	332 1604	Bus
P7B	Nikki Paterson	Flora Stevenson Primary, Comely Bank, EH4 1BG	332 1604	Bus

ST DAVID’s

P1 to P7

All pupils meet their class teacher on the Astroturf at their normal start time on Tuesday 19 April. Pupils should be collected from the Astroturf at normal times.

For the safety of the pupils, please do not park on the streets around the school. Please enter the school by the main gates, drop the children and leave immediately by the side gate. This will help keep the children safe.

Nursery

Morning and afternoon nursery children should report to the Astroturf at their normal times on Tuesday 19 April and be collected at normal times.

Lunches and breakfast club

There will be no breakfast club. We will provide free packed lunches for all pupils.

After school club

North Edinburgh Childcare will contact parents directly about arrangements.

Contact the school

For all absence, and to contact school staff, please call 07342 908521 from Tuesday 19 April.

Please do not contact host schools directly.

Arrangements

Class	Teacher	School	Phone	Transport
P1A	Mr Brendan Creaney	St Ninian’s RC Primary School, 150 Restalrig Road South, EH7 6JA	661 3431	Bus
P1B	Mrs Nicola Murphy	St Ninian’s RC Primary, 150 Restalrig Road South, EH7 6JA	661 3431	Bus
P2	Mrs Karen Magill	St Mary’s RC Primary, 63 East London Street, EH7 4BW	557 2455	Bus
P3	Miss Aoife Lambert	Hermitage Park Primary, 9 Hermitage Park, Edinburgh EH6 8HD	554 2952	Bus
P3/4	Mrs Marion Ruthven/Mrs Caroline Par	St Francis’ RC Primary, 20 Moffat Way, EH16 4PY	621 6600	Bus
P4	Mrs Aileen Hughes	St Francis’ RC Primary, 20 Moffat Way, EH16 4PY	621 6600	Bus
P5	Miss Folan	Remain at St Paul’s Annexe, St David’s Primary	07342 908521
P5/6	Miss Hancock	Remain at St Paul’s Annexe, St David’s Primary	07342 908521
P6	Miss Fallon	Remain at St Paul’s Annexe, St David’s Primary	07342 908521
P7	Mrs Pam Hamilton	Hermitage Park Primary, 9 Hermitage Park, Edinburgh EH6 8HD	554 2952	Bus
Nursery AM	Mr Kenneth Innes	Viewforth Early Years Centre, 18 Viewforth Terrace, EH10 4LH	229 6667	Bus
Nursery AM	Mr Kenneth Innes	Lochrin Nursery, West Tollcross, EH3 9QN	229 7743	Bus
Nursery PM	Mr Kenneth Innes	Viewforth Early Years Centre, 18 Viewforth Terrace, EH10 4LH	229 6667	Bus
Nur PM	Mr Kenneth Innes	Lochrin Nursery, West Tollcross, EH3 9QN	229 7743	Bus

St Columba’s: saying it with flowers

Ceramic Forget-Me-Nots to remember family members

St Columba’s Hospice has launched a new way for people to raise money in memory of loved ones who have died at the Hospice. The Hospice now offers Tribute Funds, where people can raise money in memory of a loved one and see all of their fundraising activities in one place. Continue reading St Columba’s: saying it with flowers

School places for all: Mission Accomplished!

All city pupils will have a place to go next week
Free swim session on Monday for affected pupils
Sixteen temporary classes to be located at Royal High

All 7,600 primary and secondary pupils affected by school closures now have alternative education plans put in place for next week. The final pieces of a very complicated jigsaw puzzle were slotted in this afternoon. Continue reading School places for all: Mission Accomplished!

Botanics’ Spring Festival is perfect ending to National Gardening Week

It’s all grow at The Botanics this weekend!

To mark 2016’s National Gardening Week, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is hosting a Spring Festival as People’s Postcode Lottery’s national Charity of the Week. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have awarded an amazing £450,000 to RBGE for 2016, supporting projects at home and abroad. Continue reading Botanics’ Spring Festival is perfect ending to National Gardening Week

Early success for Royston Wardieburn’s Spring Chickens

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s new adult activities Spring Chickens group met for the first time yesterday, and by all accounts it seems the participants had an eggstra-special time! Continue reading Early success for Royston Wardieburn’s Spring Chickens

Schools: the jigsaw’s almost complete

Places now found for all primary school pupils

All primary pupils affected by school closures now have alternative education plans put in place, the city council has announced. It’s been a massive challenge, but council officers have now found temporary places for almost six thousand city schoolchildren displaced after structural faults were found in seventeen PPP1 schools.

The jigsaw was completed late yesterday afternoon when pupils from the final five primary schools affected – Forthview, Pirniehall, St David’s, Broomhouse and St Josephs – were found alternative education provision.

The children will be relocated to alternative venues across the city from Tuesday next week, and it’s almost a case of ‘any port in a storm’. Some local children have been found accommodation in nearby schools including Granton and Wardie, but for other classes it’s going to mean long daily bus trips at rush hour to places including Wester Hailes, Abbeyhill and Craigmillar

The arrangements are far from ideal: the travel and strange new surroundings can be disruptive and upsetting for children and their families, but for now they know where they are going – at least in the short term. There is no indication yet just how long their own school buildings will remain closed.

Work is ongoing to identify alternative arrangements for some remaining S1 to S3 pupils.

It’s been a dreadful week of uncertainty for families, but in the past four days the Council has now put in place alternative arrangements for 5,900 pupils, which is quite an achievement. Parents have been directly notified of the new arrangements and details are available on the Council website.

Council Leader Andrew Burns said: “I’m delighted we have now been able to put in place arrangements for our primary, special school and majority of secondary pupils. Work is continuing to accommodate our S1, S2 and S3 pupils.

“The integration of pupils sharing schools has been going well and all our host staff and children have been welcoming the additional pupils and their teachers. I again want to pay credit to the Chief Executive and his team for their work on what has been a huge logistical challenge for the Council.

“On Wednesday evening the Council received early indications that suggest evidence of faults across all 17 affected schools to a varying extent. At the moment it is too early to say what the impact will be as full survey results from Edinburgh Schools Partnership have not been yet been received. Some faults may be easy to fix and may not present a major problem while others could be longer term.

“We will provide parents with further information on the impact of individual school surveys once the full reports are received and assessed.

“What is certain is that we won’t take risks with the safety of our schools children and schools won’t reopen until Edinburgh Schools Partnership can assure us of their safety. As part of the contract, Edinburgh Schools Partnership own, maintain and assure the safety of the affected buildings.

“We will publish further information on individual school surveys when these are formally received and of course provide an update to parents on their individual schools and the remediation works required.”

The programme of structural surveys arranged by the Edinburgh Schools Partnership is ongoing.

The Council will update parents directly, via text message, the Council website (www.edinburgh.gov.uk/schoolclosures and via the Council Twitter @Edinburgh_CC as soon as information becomes available.

Forthview: going forth across the city

Forthview Primary pupils will return to school next week – but in classroooms scattered across Edinburgh. Dealing with the temporary closure of seventeen schools has been a logistical nightmare for council officials and it’s proved impossible to keep the Forthview kids together. Continue reading Forthview: going forth across the city

PPP1 school closures: Faults found at ALL schools

The city council has confirmed that construction faults have been found at all seventeen buildings built during the first PPP contract. The degree of repairs required varies, but council leader Cllr Andrew Burns has conceded that some schools may be closed ‘longer term’. Continue reading PPP1 school closures: Faults found at ALL schools