Granton – Page 5 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Council acts to tackle rising school rolls

Flora Stevenson and Wardie are among Edinburgh primary schools earmarked for additional classrooms as the city council faces the ongoing challenge of rising school rolls …

Plans to deliver new classrooms to deal with the issue of rising rolls in the capital have been revealed by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Primary School Estate Rising Rolls report lists seven schools where space pressures may arise for the start of the 2015/16 session – Clermiston, East Craigs, Flora Stevenson, Gilmerton, Pentland, Ratho and Wardie Primary Schools – and a number of possible solutions.

In addition three other schools south of the city centre – Brunstfield, James Gillespie’s and South Morningside – face similar issues. A separate report which considers their specific issues and the possible approaches in that area as a whole will also be discussed at the Education, Children and Families Committee on 4 March.

With primary school rolls projected to rise to a peak of nearly 31,000 pupils by 2019 – an increase of about 15% on the position at the start of the 2013/14 school year – the Council is actively tackling the issue. £15m has already been pledged to help build extra accommodation; Granton, Trinity and Wardie Primary Schools all received new classrooms at the start of this school year receiving positive feedback from parents, pupils and staff.

A total of 18 new classrooms will be built at four schools for the start of the next school year in August 2014 – Broughton, Victoria, St David’s and Craigour Park – with a further 6 additional classrooms being provided at Fox Covert, Stockbridge, Flora Stevenson, Bruntsfield and Gylemuir Primary Schools by adapting the existing buildings.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener, said: “This report highlights the schools where we believe there will be accommodation pressures and outlines how we can meet demand for places from catchment pupils in 2015/16. The increase in rolls comes at a time when budgets are under increasing pressure, and so the Council has a responsibility to plan ahead, and ensure we provide a solution that fits with our needs and our budget.

“Despite the difficult financial climate the Capital Coalition has doubled the budget available for rising rolls, pledging £15m to tackle the issue. This has already resulted in fantastic new accommodation being delivered at several schools across the city.

“The primary school roll projections are updated every year to identify those schools where future accommodation pressures might arise allowing us to plan in advance for any changes necessary to deal with increased pupil numbers. We will now consult with these schools to identify the best solution to address the pressures should they arise.”

Cllr Godzik added: “Whether or not it is traditional extensions, new build accommodation or adapting existing space, we are committed to providing the very best educational environment for our pupils and are determined to listen to parental views and work with school communities as we move forward.

“In the longer term finding a sustainable solution to the problem of rising rolls is really important. We have to ensure there is space available for our catchment pupils. That’s why we will be laying out proposals to deal with the issue south of the city centre in the Brunstfield, James Gillespie’s and South Morningside area, and why we are working very closely with planning colleagues to look at the wider impact of housing developments included in the Local Development Plan.”

A further report will be considered at the May committee with a proposed solution for each school.

Seven Days and the legend of the Pilton Pieman

Just a week to go until the NEN Walkathon, and walkers may already have selected their chosen routes. You don’t have to stick to the suggested routes, however, the choice is all yours!

How about tackling … THE PIEMAN’S PATH?

Never heard the legend of the Pilton Pieman? Then read on …

The only known illustration of Patrick 'Pudden' Porter — The only known illustration of Patrick ‘Pudden’ Porter

Patrick ‘Pudden’ Porter – the Pilton Pieman

Many years ago, the legend of Pudden, the Pilton Pieman was born. This is the story:

Patrick ‘Pudden’ Porter was of noble birth – his family was landed gentry. Young Paddy enjoyed all the privileges of wealth, but life was to change forever for the young man when he met and fell in love with a Newhaven fishwife. Paddy’s father disowned him when he chose to marry his Newhaven love.

Patrick and his new bride lived in relative poverty, particularly when the fishing was poor, but the young nobleman was a good, hard worker who would tackle any labour – when he could not go off to see on the trawlers he worked with butchers, bakers and yes, possibly even candlestick makers to make money, gain experience and provide for his growing family. It was a tough life, but Paddy never regreatted the path he had chosen.

One evening, when he was particularly down on his luck, Paddy cut through Caroline Park House on his way home from a labouring shift, bringing in the harvest on Drylaw Farm.

He was amazed to see hundreds, maybe thousands of rabbits scampering around the grounds – and an idea formed that was to change his life forever.

The following day he returned to Caroline Park House and spoke to the gamekeeper there. The gamekeeper was only too happy to have someone to help him deal with the rabbit epidemic and soon Paddy was hard at work.

Paddy then used the skills he had learned as a butcher and a baker – and young Paddy’s delicious home made rabbit pies and puddings quickly became the talk of the town.

Paddy ‘Pudden’ Porter became something of a celebrity in Leith and Edinburgh – he mixed with the rich and famous and his pies were served at Royal banquets at Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle.

Pudden's legendary rabbit pie can be seen at the British Museum — Pudden’s legendary rabbit pie can be seen at the British Museum

While ‘Pudden’ Porter’s family flourished, the same could not be said for the family who had disowned him. ‘Pudden’ had been the first of six boys – but each of the others died prematurely, often in suspicious circumstances. Some whispered that the Porters were cursed – a housemaid swore that each of the Porter boys died after eating …. no, contaminated fish!

The Pilton Pieman went from strength to strength – Paddy Porter became Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The Porters also had a large family – by a strange coincidence, also six boys – and each of them in turn became town councillors. It’s thought that this is where the phrase ‘gravy train’ originated.

And while both Edinburgh and Leith have grown and changed so much over the centuries, even to this day the city council still has it’s fair share o’ Puddens!

THE PIEMAN’s PATH

Bayne’s, Drylaw Shops

Groathill Bakery

Gregg’s, Pennywell Road

Gregg’s, Boswall Parkway

Caroline Park House

Granton Home Bakery, West Granton Road

Mason’s Bakery, Newhaven

Walk in the footsteps of a local legend and taste a piece of history!

Young people map out youth provision

Young Persons Map

The Junction, a health and wellbeing project for young people aged 12-21, has developed and delivered a young person’s mapping project which is based on the principles and features of the Asset Based Approach.

The key feature of asset based working is valuing the potential, skills, knowledge and connections present in individuals and their communities.

During creation of the map staff spoke with young people in their community during streetwork; each map shows where young people hang out, places they feel safe and where they go for support as well as what they saw as the best thing about their area.

The maps were made during May and June at The Junction in Leith, Granton Youth Centre (GYC), Pilton Youth & Community Project (PYCP) and Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG).

Young people attending their regular drop-in at each organisation were given the chance to get involved and those that took part were aged from 12 to 17.

There are 4 maps in total – each is 9ft x 6ft and is made of tie dye material, each map is unique and made up from photos, young people’s comments and opinions about their area.

This is just the beginning; each organisation will be given the map to use as a resource to use with the young people of that area.

Feel free to email any comments you may have about the maps.

Ian@the-junction.org

With special thanks to NEAIC (North Edinburgh Alcohol Initiative Collaborative)

Granton next door neighbours band launch first CD

Two next door neighbours from Granton are part of a band who will be launching their first CD next Saturday (11 May, 7.30pm) at Hendersons St John’s on the corner of Princes St and Lothian Road.

Kite and the Crane are an indie-folk band who write songs about beauty in the everyday. North Edinburgh residents might well recognise some local scenes mentioned in their songs, especially in ‘Lights across the way’ which is about watching the planes coming in over the Firth of Forth.

Songwriter Hannah Kitchen said, “We’re really excited about launching our first 5 track CD and would love folk from North Edinburgh to make it along. Many of the songs were inspired by, written, practiced and recorded in North Edinburgh – thanks sometimes to the patience of our neighbours!”

Tickets are £4 or £3.50 concession from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/219051
You can listen to and download ‘Lights across the way’ at www.kiteandthecrane.co.uk

Get on your bike for The Postcode Challenge

Explore the North Edinburgh Cycleways with Edinburgh’s favourite treasure hunt on wheels!

What: The Postcode Challenge, organised by The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and The Bike Station. This is a fun, free ‘treasure hunt’ event for cyclists and walkers on the North Edinburgh Path Network, part of the Innertube project and funded by People’s Postcode Trust

Where: The North Edinburgh Cycleways (various entrances to the cycleway including at: Trinity Rd/Lower Granton Road; Ferry Road; Clark Road; Wardie Road; Hawthornvale; Pilton Drive; Scotland St)

When: Sunday 28^th April 2013, 11am – 4pm

This coming Sunday is the third Postcode Challenge on the north Edinburgh paths, a fun, free event for cyclists and walkers, a ‘treasure hunt on wheels’ (and foot), with the chance to explore around 27km of continuous off-road routes and to enter into the prize draw at the same time.

Dotted around the network will be ten stands, run by local organisations. Find your first one (you can start anywhere on the route) and they will give you a card. Get the card stamped at all ten locations (five if you are on foot) and bring it back to the event HQ at Fiveways Junction by 4pm to be entered into the free prize draw. As well as the main prizes, many of the stands may have freebies and presents to give away too and you’ll be able to get your bike fixed and have cycling advice from Hart’s Cyclery, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op and The Bike Station stands.

The event is totally traffic free and great for all ages and everyone is welcome – you can take part on your own, as a family or as part of a team.

Participants can download further information here and a cyclist route map and stamp card here or if you are on foot, download the walkers’ version. Or just collect one at the first stand you find.

Look out for the following stalls on the route:

The Bike Station – for bike repairs with Dr Bike
Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust
The Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop – check out their gorgeous new building!
Pedal on Parliament
Spokes
Sustrans
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
Harts Cyclery – Bike repairs and advice
My Edinburgh (MYDG)
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op – Bike repairs and advice

We can’t tell you where each stand will be – but once you’ve found the first one, you’re away. If in doubt, head to Fiveways Junction, where people will point you in the right direction.

And thank you to the following for donating prizes: Spokes, the Bike Station, Harts Cyclery Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op and Green Yonder Tours

This event is part of the Innertube project, funded thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery and via the People’s Postcode Trust.

For further information, please contact Liz on 0771 265 1102 or email liz@elgt.org.uk

Download a printable version of the poster to help promote the Challenge.

You're never too young for the Postcode Cycle Challenge! — You’re never too young for the Postcode Cycle Challenge!

Council warns school placing requests ‘may not be met’

It’s often a worry for parents when their wee ones make the step up to ‘big’ school, but even more so for the parents who choose to send their child to a school outside their catchment area. It’s not always possible to get a place at the school you’ve chosen for your child, and many face an anxious wait over the coming weeks …

The City of Edinburgh Council is warning parents who have applied for primary school places outwith their catchment that they may not be met due to the pressure of rising rolls.

A report to the Education, Children and Families Committee on Tuesday (5 March) will list the schools where placing requests may not be met.

The number of P1 registrations has increased by 3.5 per cent on last year to 4632 and the Council has received more than 700 placing requests so far for the next school year.

There has been a decrease in the number of these requests following a concerted campaign to encourage parents to learn more about their local catchment school and the benefits of their child attending there. This has led to a 15 per cent reduction on the number of requests received last year.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener, said: “Parents who have submitted a placing request should be prepared for the fact that they may not get the place they were hoping for and recent experience has been that appeals are unlikely to be successful. However, their child will be registered with their local catchment school and will start next August alongside other local children.

“Historically, Edinburgh has had a high rate of placing requests when compared with other parts of Scotland. However, since I became Convener of Education I have met a number of parents who faced similar situations in the last few years. Happily, they report things have worked out and that their local catchment school is providing very well for their child. I would encourage all parents who are thinking about placing requests to reconsider their catchment school and perhaps pay it a visit, as it is becoming clear many requests will be refused this year.”

To help ensure there are enough places for catchment children, planning permission has now been received for extra classrooms at three city primary schools – Wardie, Trinity and Granton, all of which need of more classroom space due to the large number of registrations. These extensions will be in place by August, and a planning application for new classes at Victoria Primary is also being considered.

A working group made up of parent, officer and school representatives has been set up to look at the challenges facing city schools in light of rising rolls and an increase in population.

WARDIE - extension agreed — WARDIE – extension agreed

Art project planned for Granton tunnel

A project initiated by the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust will see the tunnel at Granton (behind Morrisons) transformed from bare walls to an Innertube map art extravaganza.

The project which is being managed locally by the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre will see a design which is featured around the Innertube Map painted onto the walls in the tunnel.

Local youngsters get practising for taking part in the project. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

Leith-based artist Chris Young has been commissioned to come up with the design, work with local young people to develop the design and implement it. Chris has been involved a variety of community lead projects and is looking forward to starting at the Granton site next week.

The design that Chris proposed at the site was then taken to local young people at Fet Lor Youth Centre and they had a chance to make comments and even have their own artwork included in the plans.

Last night Chris attended their youth club and they had the opportunity to prepare a design and painting their design. Around 13 young people took part and these young people will all be involved in the implementation of the project on the tunnel.

Don’t worry, if you would like to have the chance to get involved or fancy doing some painting at the tunnel with Chris then please contact Thomas Brown at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on 0131 315 4989 or email thomas@drylawnc.org.uk Over the coming weeks we will be updating on the progress at the tunnel and keeping you informed how you can get involved.

You can see a short video below of what the young people made at Fet Lor and also see their finished product.

Gym Fest 2012 hits new heights

Edinburgh Leisure and Active Schools teamed up again to stage Gymfest, a celebration of the city’s young gymnasts, at Broughton High School yesterday. And with financial support from Active City the annual display reached new heights – quite literally! A wide range of gymnasts from across the city took part in the Broughton spectacular – from enthusiastic new dancers and fun gymnasts (some performing in public for the first time) to top young athletes who already participate in competitions – and the packed audience was entertained from start to finish by some spectacular performances. Given the high standards throughout the afternoon it was fitting that all the participants received medals, so take a bow:

City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club (Senior Team)

City of Edinburgh Broughton Recreation Team

Blackhall Primary School Gymnastics Club

Castlebrae Community High School Gymnastics Club

Broughton High School Gymnastics Club

City of Edinburgh Firrhill Recreation team

Tynecastle High School Gymnastics Club

Gylemuir Primary School Gymnastics Club

Granton Primary School Dance Group

Corstorphine Primary School Gymnastics Club

Ferryhill Primary School Gymnastics Group

Pentland Primary School Gymnastics Club

Stockbridge Primary Dance Group

City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club Display Team

Dads Rock’s coming to Granton!

Dads Rock, the free fun playgroup for dads and their kids, is coming to Granton. It’s almost a year to the day since Thomas Lynch and David Marshall dreamed up the idea of starting a playgroup for dads and their kids, and Dads Rock has since gone from strength to strength.

Dads Rock’s weekly fun sessions for under-fives at Sighthill’s Gate 55 have been very popular since they were launched last November, and the group has gone on to attract both local and national press coverage – last month the group was featured in a photo exhibition at the Scottish Parliament. Dads Rock is now very excited to be coming to The Prentice Centre on Saturday mornings – the big launch is Saturday 27 October from 10 – 11.30am.

Group founder Thomas Lynch said: “It’s amazing the difference a year makes! We’ve had brilliant meetings at The Prentice Centre and it’s a great venue. We’re really looking forward to starting there on Saturday 27th at 10am – we’re hoping for a great turn out, so spread the news!”

No sooner said than done …

Local dads off to Holyrood!

Two local men will feature in a photographic exhibition at the Scottish Parliament next month. Dads Alex Newport and Malcolm Borthwick and their families are part of the ‘In Dad’s Shoes’ exhibition being staged by the father’s group Dad’s Rock.

Wester Drylaw’s Alex and Malcolm, who lives in Granton, are members of a North Edinburgh group set up specifically for dads. Based at the Haven Project in Craigroyston Primary School, the father’s group is run by Circle Scotland’s Nick Smithers.

Nick explained: “The exhibition comprises of photos of all kinds of dads and their children, telling their own stories through photos and with words. The images show a variety of differing stages of being a father, ultimately the aim is to highlight positive, caring images of dads and their children. The exhibition has been on view at Eteaket during July and August, and, complemented with added new material, will go to Holyrood next month.”

Previously on display south of the border following an official launch at the House of Lords in June, Dads Rock and Fathers Network Scotland worked in conjunction with Dads House to bring this unique photo exhibition to Scotland. It’s hoped that the display will continue to tour Scotland after the Holyrood exhibition.