Save Springside Primary from Closure!

Springside Primary School General queries.

The campaign committee of Springside Primary School, have been getting asked questions from members of the community regarding their thoughts on the school closure proposals which don’t fall into either of the headings “Capacity Queries” or “Community issues”.

Some of these questions are detailed below.

1.   Why has the proposed capacity of the new school been changed from 350 capacity in November 07, to 444 capacity in January 08, when NAC don’t expect the school roll to rise above 322?

2.   What are the “educational benefits” of a new school?

3.   Will NAC please supply us a full breakdown of figures that they have used to calculate the projected savings for each of the options on our consultation paperwork. Ie – running costs of the new school compared to the current schools etc.

4.   Do NAC agree that they have a right to spend tax payers money wisely to get the best back from that money?

5.   Apart from avoiding taking into account “the views of parents”, can you tell us why progress has not been started with regards looking for a potential site for a new school?

6.    Looking at the point made in question 5, what would have been so wrong about taking the parents views into consideration when looking for a new site?

Springside Primary School capacity queries.

 The campaign committee have several questions to ask regarding the capacity calculated for Springside Primary School.

First of all, and most importantly to us is the capacity figure that was quoted to us of 192. You did supply us with the formula that was used to calculate the capacity and the figures that were used, however, we feel that these figures are wrong.

Springside Primary School use all the space available to them, and would find it very difficult to teach in the correct manner that is required of them if the available space was not there.

One of the empty classrooms is used on a daily basis for activities for younger children, which they are required to have as part of the current school curriculum and requirements. The other room is utilised for IT, and for breakout sessions when the children are put into groups depending on their capabilities etc.

The teaching of these kids would be very difficult if these rooms were not available.

For Health and Safety reasons, the children who currently attend the school have lunch over 2 sittings to allow space for them to safely move to the tables with their food.  

Some of the questions that arise are as follows:-

1.   Why have NAC used the capacity figure of 192, when you have told us that it would be “unlikely for that figure ever to be used in all but extreme circumstances”?

2.   Why are NAC ignoring the fact that the “Scottish Government” & “Audit Scotland” accept that the highest capacity of our school should be 153, which would take us to 57% capacity, and be outside of this consultation process?

3.   Surely the school cannot have a capacity of 192 if the 87 children who currently attend, have to take lunch in 2 sittings?

4.   If an exact copy of Springside primary school was built today, with today’s legislation and European building control regulations , would the school kitchen meet the requirements if the school had 192 pupils in attendance?

5.   If an exact copy of Springside primary school was built today, with today’s legislation and European building control regulations, would the toilet facilities meet the requirements if there was 192 children attending the school?

6.   If an exact copy of Springside primary school was built today, with today’s legislation and European building control regulations, would the dining room facilities meet the requirements if there was 192 pupils attending the schools?

7.   If an exact copy of Springside primary school was built today, with today’s legislation, would the school meet all the European building control regulations and requirements regarding fire exits etc if there was 192 children attending the school?

8.   For health and Safety reasons, and for fire regulations, the school dinner hall / gym hall must by law have a maximum capacity due to it’s size. These figures must be quoted on employers and public liability insurance documents. (This was confirmed to me by Carol Kirk after the meeting at Towerlands Primary School on 18^th Feb) What is the maximum number of people allowed in to the hall when the floor is clear of obstructions, for example at a kids Christmas or Halloween party?

9.   Following on from Question 6, what is the maximum number of people allowed to be in the hall at any one time when there are chairs laid out for a public meeting, Christmas Concert or Thanksgiving service etc?

10.               Again, following on from Question 6, what is the maximum capacity of the hall when there are tables and chairs being used at, for example, lunchtimes?

11.               We have been told by NAC that it is not cost effective to maintain and heat half empty schools. The “supposed” empty space we have is not actually empty as it is used on a daily basis. Is NAC actually saying that they are no longer prepared to maintain and heat space that is REQUIRED for today’s way of teaching, and which is used on a daily basis to assist in the education of our children?

12.               If this consultation is about moving money away from heating empty spaces, why did NAC not look at the schools with the greatest amount of empty spaces, rather than simply look at percentage capacity?

13.               Again, if NAC are stating that this consultation is about moving money away from heating empty spaces, why do NAC want to build a new primary school which will have more empty spaces to heat than we currently have at the moment?

14.               Will NAC please provide us with a copy of the schedule of public liability insurance, and the certificate of public liability insurance, relating to Springside Primary School, or alternatively a copy of the schedule and certificate of insurance that details capacity of the school dinner / gym hall?

15.               NAC informed us that maximum capacities of the hall, and use of space is determined by the head teacher of the school who will have regard to risk assessment. As the head teacher doesn’t negotiate with insurance companies, nor do they lay out legislation regarding maximum capacities and occupancy levels, what instructions have been issued in writing to the Head Teacher of Springside primary School regarding the maximum number of people she is allowed to have in the hall at any one time?

Questions relating to the Proposed Amalgamated School

1. Where is the proposed new school to be built.
   
2. Where are the prospective sites.
   
3. What if a site between or convenient to the two villages cannot be found.
   
4. Will you consult and consider the views of the parents after the consultation, regarding the location of the amalgamated school should we be unsuccessful in retaining Springside Primary.
   
5. What are the proposed classroom sizes for the amalgamated school.
   
6. What financial assistance will we receive to transport our children and accompany them to school.
   
7. Assuming that most children will have to travel by bus to get to the proposed amalgamated school, please tell us how you will supervise the children.
   
8. Children as young as 4yrs may be traveling alone to school on buses provided by the Council, who will be responsible for ensuring their safety when they leave the bus to enter school and vice versa.
   
9. What cycle and walking route provisions will you make if the proposed amalgamated school goes ahead.
   
10. Will the council make provisions for school transport for children participating in after school activities.
    
11. What transport arrangements will be made for nursery children.
    
12. What are the Education benefits for our children within a new school.
    
13. What measures will be taken to ease the children’s transition to an amalgamated and bigger school.

Questions relating to Community Issues

1. Springside is a “Regeneration Area”, why therefore are you looking at removing our most important asset instead of building upon what we already have.
   
2. 29.2% of the residents in Springside are considered as income deprived, therefore have the council taken in account the financial implication the transport costs would put on these families.
   
3. How will the amalgamated school fulfill Springside’s Primary School’s current community activity and involvement.
   
4. Will the amalgamated school conduct annual festivals and performances within Springside.
   
5. Will the amalgamated school still visit the sheltered housing in Springside for carol singing.
   
6. Where will the annual Christmas fayre be held.
   
7. If school children and parents are not using our local shops on the way to and from school and at lunchtimes, how are these businesses to survive financially.
   
8. Will the education executive take time to visit Springside Primary School or look at its recent achievements.
   
9. What effect would the school closure have on local authority funding coming in to the village for youth clubs etc.
   
10. How will the proposed amalgamated school embrace our community.

These are just a selection of the questions our community have asked for, which we would like  clear and precise answers to before our meeting with the Education Board on the 5^th March 08.

We thank you for your assistance and look forward to receiving your responses to all of the above questions.