Tag: Ferryhill Primary School

School place problems for Ferryhill and Granton?

New classrooms for Wardie and Flora Stevenson but growing pains loom for Ferryhill and Granton

ferryhill

Ferryhill and Granton are among eight Edinburgh primary schools identified by the city council as potentially having accommodation issues for August 2016 due to rising rolls.

The Primary School Estate Rising Rolls report highlights possible pressures for P1 places for August 2016 at Balgreen, East Craigs, Ferryhill, Fox Covert, Granton, Roseburn, St Mary’s RC (Leith) and Towerbank Primary Schools.

Consultation will now take place with the eight school communities – including the recommendation for a catchment review at Towerbank Primary School – and the report will be discussed at the Education, Children and Families Committee next week (Tuesday 3 March).

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “In the past two years we have delivered an additional 46 modern, high quality class spaces in our primary school estate and a further 24 will be delivered for this August.

“The issue of rising rolls will be here for many years to come so it’s important that we consider all the available options when creating space for our pupils. Key to this is our consultation with local school communities which has been really positive.”

Currently there are 28,010 primary school pupils but latest estimates show this will rise to 31,700 by 2020 and then increase further to 35,400 by 2030.

The City of Edinburgh Council will deliver 24 new class spaces which are needed for the start of the 2015/16 session. Local schools set to benefit are Flora Stevenson (3 classes) and Wardie (2) while Clermiston (4 classes), Gilmerton (4), James Gillespie’s (4), Pentland (3) and Ratho (4) will also grow.

In addition South Morningside Primary School will have a temporary annexe created for P1 and P2 pupils at Deanbank Resource Centre and extra internal space will be provided at both Brunstfield and Liberton Primary Schools.

 

Ferryhill – champion growers!

Ferryhill Primary School children are the city’s champion growers!

Primary pupils from across Edinburgh competed to be crowned the most green fingered of them all in a competition that saw them grow their own country for the Olympic Games. Each school was given the name of a country competing in the 2012 Games and tasked with growing a basket of flowers to represent the nation for the chance to win gold for their school.

The City of Edinburgh Council teamed up with Gardening Scotland for the competition and the winners were crowned champions today by Scottish Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP. Gold medal was won by Ferryhill Primary , silver by Gylemuir Primary and bronze went to Bruntsfield Primary.

Convener for Children and Families, Cllr Paul Godzik, said: “This is a great, innovative way for pupils to feel a part of the Olympic Games and also learn valuable lessons about the environment and other cultures and countries. The Games are set to be a historic time for the whole of Great Britain, and involving all our schools across the city in a wide variety of Olympic activities will inspire pupils to enjoy taking part in sport and learn about the world they live in.”

Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, said: “With Olympic football at Hampden and the torch coming to Scotland, the Country in a Basket competition will help excite pupils about the forthcoming Olympic Games. This schools contest is an excellent way to engage pupils in the inclusive international spirit of the Games, while also helping them learn more about gardening, biodiversity and the natural world. I look forward to seeing the many creative country basket designs that pupils come up with and wish them all the best of luck for a place on the winners podium.”

Martin Dare, organiser of Gardening Scotland 2012, said: “At Gardening Scotland we welcome the participation of gardeners of all ages and we are delighted that this year so many green-fingered youngsters will be taking part through Country in a Basket. They’ll be taking their place alongside top garden designers, some of the UK’s best nurseries and more than 400 exhibitors selling everything for the garden.”

The competition and display will form part of the Gardening Scotland event at Ingliston, which runs until 3 June. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend over the three days, and the schools’ flowers and plants will be on proud display throughout.

The schools were provided with a basket, bag of compost and £50 to spend. Volunteers were also on hand to provide practical growing advice.

This is part of a wider initiative Edinburgh Gets Set for the Games – a series of cultural and sporting events held across the city. The programme includes a concert at the Usher Hall and a major sporting event at Meadowbank Stadium.

Schools have also run a wide range of curriculum based educational projects based on making international links, learning about other Olympic nations, healthy eating, sport, international culture, concerts and events and international twinning.

City of Edinburgh Council