Education Committee - 22/06/2015

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd June, 2015.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th May, 2015 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article II by virtue of having a child at one of the affected schools.

II OUTCOME OF THE FORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THE CLOSURE OF MENZIESHILL HIGH SCHOOLAND ASSOCIATED AMENDMENTS TO SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREAS

The Committee acceded to a request for deputations to address the Committee against the above. After the deputations had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter, there was submitted Report No 175-2015 by the Director of Education containing the formal consultation report, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, on the proposal to close Menzieshill High School and make associated changes to school catchment areas.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Murray, moved to:-

(i) note the contents of the report;

(ii) note the accompanying consultation report, including the report by Education Scotland on the proposal;

(iii) agree that Menzieshill High School be closed;

(iv) agree that the catchment area of Harris Academy be re-delineated to include Menzieshill High School's existing catchment area within Dundee;

(v) agree to transfer that part of Harris Academy's catchment area, which comprises the catchment area of Rosebank Primary School, to Morgan Academy's catchment area and make Morgan Academy the associated secondary school of Rosebank Primary School;

(vi) agree to make Baldragon Academy the associated Dundee secondary school of Longforgan, Inchture, Abernyte, Auchterhouse, Birkhill and Liff Primary Schools; and

(vii) instruct the Director of Education to proceed with the proposal.

Agree that Menzieshill High School be discontinued at the close of the school session 2015/2016 and that the changes in the rezoning also take effect for all applications for school places at Harris Academy, Morgan Academy and Baldragon Academy for the school session 2016/2017 onwards.

Agree that all pupils currently enrolled in Menzieshill High School would be entitled to transfer to the new Harris Academy at the commencement of academic session 2016/2017. Any pupils who wish to enrol at another school would be entitled to make a placing request for that school.

The following arrangements to apply from session 2016/2017:-

- Perth and Kinross primary schools (Abernyte, Inchture and Longforgan) and Angus primary schools (Auchterhouse, Birkhill and Liff) which were all formerly associated with Menzieshill High School would become associated primary schools of Baldragon Academy;

- the Dundee associated primary schools of Menzieshill High School, (Gowriehill Primary School, Hillside Primary School and Camperdown Primary School would become associated primary schools of Harris Academy;

- Invergowrie Primary School would remain an associated primary school for Harris Academy;

- Morgan Academy would become the associated secondary school for Rosebank Primary School;

- Until the end of school session 2020/2021, pupils who attended and live in the catchment area of any former associated primary schools of Menzieshill High School, would be given Priority 1 status for enrolment at Harris Academy where the young person would have a sibling (as defined in the Enrolment and Placing Request Guidelines) attending Harris Academy;

- Until the end of school session 2020/2021, pupils who make a placing request for Harris Academy, who attended and live in the catchment area of Rosebank Primary School, would be given Priority 1 status for enrolment at Harris Academy where the young person would have a sibling (as defined in the Enrolment and Placing Request Guidelines) attending Harris Academy;

- All pupils transferring from Menzieshill High School to Harris Academy, for the commencement of school session 2016/2017, would be eligible for a bus pass for the remainder of their school career, if they live more than one mile from Harris Academy (as calculated by the 'safest walking distance' procedure used in current authority transport guidelines) and live in the current Menzieshill High School catchment area in Dundee; and

- All pupils living in the current Menzieshill High School catchment area in Dundee who move into Harris Academy S1 at the commencement of school session 2016/2017 would be entitled to a bus pass for the remainder of their school career, if they live more than one mile from Harris Academy (as calculated by the 'safest walking distance' procedure used in current authority transport guidelines).

The above transport arrangements would provide a more generous provision than the current guidelines for pupil transport which only provide a bus pass when the pupil either lives more than three miles from the school or two miles where pupils are entitled to free school meals.

As an amendment, Councillor Bidwell, seconded by Councillor Cruickshank, moved that it is proposed that the Education Committee:-

(a) notes the contents of the report from the Executive Director of Children and Families;

(b) notes the accompanying consultation report, including the report by Education Scotland on the proposal; BUT

(c) defers decisions on recommendations (iii) - (vii) in the Director's report until the alternative proposals made by the Save Menzieshill High School Action Group have been thoroughly examined by a short life working group that includes representatives from the Action Group and is supported by the Convener of Education, one other member of the Administration Group, one member of the Labour Group, two members of the Save Menzieshill High School Action Group, senior Council Officers and remits the Executive Director of Children and Families to report back to the Education Committee during the Autumn Term 2015.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Duncan, Depute Lord Provost Roberts, Bailie Sawers, Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross and Macpherson and Monsignor McCaffrey (18); and for the amendment - Bailies Wright, Borthwick and Scott, Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready and McGovern and Miss Mands and Mr Chohan (14) - with Mr Baxter declining to vote and Mr Douris being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

III NORTH EAST CAMPUS - OUTCOME OF THE FORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

There was submitted Report No 174-2015 by the Director of Education containing the formal Consultation Report, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, on the proposals to close St Luke's and St Matthew's RC Primary and St Vincent's RC Primary Schools and to establish a new Roman Catholic primary school located on a new school campus setting with the relocation of Longhaugh Primary School and Longhaugh Nursery School to that campus.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report;

(ii) noted the accompanying Consultation Report, including the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)/Education Scotland on the proposal;

(iii) agreed that St Luke's and St Matthew's RC Primary and St Vincent's RC Primary Schools be closed and a new Roman Catholic primary school be established and located on a new school campus setting, with the relocation of Longhaugh Primary School and Longhaugh Nursery School to that campus, which would be located on the ground adjacent to the existing Longhaugh Primary School site;

(iv) instructed the Director of Education to ensure clear travel plans were created for families attending the new school, and also agree any action that would be required to upgrade current footpaths; and

(v) instructed the Director of Education to proceed with the proposal.

In addition, it was agreed that before the site and buildings on the St Vincent's site were disposed of, consideration be given by the Project Board, in consultation with local elected members, to using this to provide space for enhanced recreational and community uses for residents. More specifically, and bearing in mind the adjacent Rowantree Primary School, it was suggested that the existing tarmac playground might form a drop-off zone for parents and carers and the remaining recreational space might also be available to be used by pupils. Further, that it be remitted to the appropriate officers to advise on the associated financial implications.

IV ASSOCIATING ST CLEMENTS RC PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH ST JOHNS RC HIGH SCHOOL - OUTCOME OF THEFORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

There was submitted Report No 177-2015 by the Director of Education containing the formal Consultation Report, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, on the proposal to associate St Clement's RC Primary School with St John's RC High School.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report;

(ii) noted the accompanying consultation report, including the report by Education Scotland on the proposal;

(iii) agreed that there should be a re-delineation of the existing catchment areas for St Paul's RC Academy and St John's RC High School by transferring that part of St Paul's RC Academy's catchment area which comprises the catchment area of St Clement's RC Primary School to St John's RC High School and to make St John's RC High School the associated secondary school of St Clement's RC Primary School;

(iv) agreed that the re-delineation would take effect from 17th August, 2016;

(v) agreed the transitional arrangements for pupil transport as noted in paragraph 3.2 of the consultation report; and

(vi) instructed the Director of Education to proceed with the proposal.

V CATCHMENT REVISION IN THE STRATHMARTINE WARD - OUTCOME OF THE FORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

There was submitted Report No 176-2015 by the Director of Education containing the formal Consultation Report in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, on the proposal to revise the catchment areas of Ardler Primary School, Craigowl Primary School, Downfield Primary School and Sidlaw View Primary School.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report;

(ii) noted the accompanying Consultation Report, including the report by Education Scotland on the proposal;

(iii) agreed the catchment area changes as outlined in Appendix 4 of the report on the Scotland proposals;

(iv) agreed that the new catchment areas would take effect from 1st January, 2016;

(v) agreed the transitional arrangements for enrolment and placing requests as outlined in paragraph 3.2 of the consultation report; and

(vi) instructed the Director of Education to proceed with the proposal.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.