South Edinburgh Primary Schools Accommodation Options

Closed 6 Oct 2015

Opened 24 Aug 2015

Feedback expected 14 Jan 2016

Contact

cf.propertyreview@edinburgh.gov.uk

Overview

The combined rolls of Bruntsfield Primary School, James Gillespie’s Primary School and South Morningside Primary Schools are the highest they have been in more than 30 years. A new primary school was proposed in 2002 to address rising rolls in the area but no land was available at that time to allow it to be built. Since then we have relied on other measures (such as temporary units and annexe accommodation) to meet demand at these schools. We now need to find a permanent solution to address the issue. 

Three different options have been identified for consideration, based on a combined site at Deanbank/Oakland on Cannan Lane, as below:
 
Option 1 Establish a new primary school on the combined site of the existing South Morningside Primary School Deanbank temporary annexe and the Oaklands Care Home on Canaan Lane. A new catchment area would be created, taking sections of the current Bruntsfield, James Gillespie’s and South Morningside Primary School catchment areas.  The northern tip of the James Gillespie’s Primary School catchment area would also be realigned with Tollcross Primary School. Option 1 could be delivered with one of three sub-options for early years, as set out below:
  • Option 1a - does not include a nursery as part of the new school building as the existing South Morningside nursery classes which are based at Fairmilehead Church Hall would remain there; 
     
  • Option 1b - includes a nursery as part of the new school building and also keeps the current nursery classes of South Morningside Primary School at Fairmilehead Church Hall; or 
     
  • Option 1c - includes a nursery as part of the new school building that replaces the capacity currently provided by the existing nursery classes of South Morningside Primary School at Fairmilehead Church Hall. 
     
 
 
You can also download related maps of the options and proposed catchments and lists of addresses affected in option 1 and option 2. 
 
Option 2  Increase the capacity of South Morningside Primary School
to four streams by establishing a permanent annexe of South Morningside Primary School (for nursery to P3) at the Oaklands /Deanbank site on Canaan Lane.  In option 2, the existing South Morningside Primary School catchment would need to be extended to take in sections of the Bruntsfield and James Gillespie’s Primary School catchment areas. The northern tip of the James Gillespie’s Primary School catchment area would also be realigned with Tollcross Primary School. 
 
Option 3 Maintain and improve existing accommodation arrangements by permanently establishing South Morningside Primary School’s Deanbank temporary annexe. This would see a new gym provided there and the relocation of the South Morningside Primary School nursery to the Deanbank site. This option would need a minor catchment change to incorporate the Deanbank / Oaklands Care site into the South Morningside Primary School catchment area (they are currently in the James Gillespie's catchment). No residential addresses would be affected.
 
How will the changes affect local schools?
Options 1 and 2 require that the catchment areas of Bruntsfield, James Gillespie's and South Morningside Primary Schools be changed. These options also affect the catchment area of Tollcross Primary School. 
The changes would only affect new P1 pupils in the areas of catchment proposed for transfer. They would be implemented when the new accommodation was completed. The suitability of the accommodation at South Morningside Primary School would be improved in every option and the suitability of accommodation at James Gillespies Primary School would also be improved in options 1 and 2. 
 
You can find detailed information about all of the options outlined and their implications for schools in the full statutory consultation paper.

 

Why your views matter

Each potential option put forward would have different impacts on families and schools.  We want to hear the views of anyone affected  and are encouraging as many people as possible to get involved.  

We also have a legal obligation to carry out a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 as amended by the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

What happens next

Now that the consultation period is over we must send Education Scotland information about what was said. They will look at this and discuss them with the local schools.
 
After that, Education Scotland send us a report on their findings. This is then part of the outcome report that Councillors base their final decision on.
 
That outcome report will be public. We expect to publish it by 1 October 2015. If we have your contact details we will send you a link.We will also publish it online.
 
The issues raised in the consultation will be set out with our responses and recommentdations. These will be published on 14 January 2016. Councillors are then due to consider the issues on 4 February 2016 to decide what will happen. Depending on which option is selected, there may alos be a requirement to ask Scottish Ministers for approval.
 
It is estimated that the earliest either option 1 or 2 could be delivered is August 2019 while option 3 could potentially be delivered by August 2018. These dates are only indicative as once a final decision is in place funding would need to be approved and construction could only start once the sites are available.

Events

  • South Morningside Public Meeting

    From 3 Sep 2015 at 18:30 to 3 Sep 2015 at 20:30

    Your chance to find out more and ask the Council's team questions @ South Morningside Primary School

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

  • James Gillespie's Public Meeting

    From 8 Sep 2015 at 18:30 to 8 Sep 2015 at 20:30

    Your chance to find out more and ask the Council's team questions @ James Gillespie's Primary School

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

  • Bruntsfield Public Meeting

    From 22 Sep 2015 at 18:30 to 22 Sep 2015 at 20:30

    Your chance to find out more and ask the Council's team questions @ Bruntsfield Primary School

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

  • St Peter's Public Meeting

    From 29 Sep 2015 at 18:30 to 29 Sep 2015 at 20:30

    Your chance to find out more and ask the Council's team questions @ St Peter's RC Primary School

    Add to my Calendar (.ics)

Areas

  • Neigbourhood Partnership - South Central
  • Ward 10 - Meadows/Morningside
  • Ward 15 - Southside/Newington
  • Ward 9 - Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart

Audiences

  • Parents/carers
  • Community councils
  • Neighbourhood partnerships

Interests

  • Children and Families
  • Nurseries and childcare