New Schools in Argyll

[hoots the scoop]

Read this tonight on the Argyll & Bute Council website (see below in dark red) and cannot help but feel some bitterness towards this whole project.

10 new schools are being built across ABC yet none in Kintyre

Is there any truth in the story that plans for a new joint campus in Campbeltown were suggested and when the community (quite correctly) turned them down the case for any new schools was closed and we were basically told 'if you don't like it you aren't getting anything! '

Education Minister Peter Peacock today began the process that will lead to ten new schools being built in Argyll and Bute over the next two years by ceremoniously cutting the first sod at the Lochgilphead Joint Campus site.

Argyll and Bute Council’s non profit distributing (NPDO) model of Private Public Partnership has taken five years to develop and is the first of its kind in Scotland.
Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Allan Macaskill, said: “I am delighted to welcome the minister to Lochgilphead to begin this historic programme of school renewal. The refurbishment of the schools estate has long been a Council priority and today brings to fruition many years of hard work by everyone involved in the project.

“The high levels of academic achievement in Argyll and Bute will be further enhanced by these new schools. Over half of our secondary school pupils can now look forward to a modern learning environment designed to meet the educational requirements of the 21st century.

Councillor Dick Walsh, Argyll and Bute Council’s spokesperson on Education, says, “Today’s events mark the launch of a massive programme of investment to modernise the schools of Argyll and Bute. The commitment of everyone involved in the project is reflected in the additional funding being provided by the Scottish Executive over a 30-year period.

“In embarking on this project our aim has always been to build schools fit for teachers to teach in and for children to learn in. The new facilities will benefit not only the teachers and pupils, but also the communities in which they are situated.”



EDITORS NOTES

1. The ten schools involved are:
· Rockfield Primary, St Columba’s Primary, Drummore Primary (Oban Primary Campus)

· Rothesay Academy, Rothesay Primary (Rothesay Joint Campus)

· Lochgilphead High, Lochgilphead Primary, Whitegates Learning Centre (Lochgilphead Joint Campus)

· Dunoon Grammar

· Hermitage Academy.

[amron]

If I can remember rightly the option was for Castlehill and the Grammer to have a joint campus and Dalintober to have a new school.
Castlehill did not want a joint campus they opted for a school of their own.
It would have made more sense to have a joint primary school rather than primary/secondary. I wonder if that was an option. Then again that would not please everybody.
Having recently been in the Grammer it has not changed much since I left many years ago, the only difference now is hardly any of the windows can be opened. I don't think that there is much money set aside for repairs etc. Does anyone know what the life span of the Grammar was when it was built?
When I attended a meeting through the school board about my childrens school hardly any other parents turned up. People will complain that there is no new schools for Kintyre but parents all had a choice and a chance to vote.

[Malky]

People will complain that there is no new schools for Kintyre but they all had a choice.

Hmmmm, wasn't the plan to build the joint secondary/primary school in Lower Kintyre Park, which is an area very prone to flooding. I don't seem to remember there being a choice.

The offer of a new school was conditional on accepting what was offered with no room for change. As soon as local people objected (even though alternative suggestions were put forward) the offer was withdrawn.

WC1 may be able to comment further on this.

Malky

[amron]

Hi Malky,

I was aiming more at the parents/carers who never attended the meetings about the proposals at the time. As I said hardly anyone turned up at one of the meetings I went to. I remember having to fill in and vote on my forms and there was plenty room to comment or make suggestions it would have been interesting to see the results. I don,t know if it was just people who had children of school age that were given these forms.

I do know that Kintyre Park is prone to flooding but so is the ground that the new swimming pool is being built even though other sites were looked at the Council still choose the current ground.

[hoots the scoop]

I do know that Kintyre Park is prone to flooding but so is the ground that the new swimming pool is being built even though other sites were looked at the Council still choose the current ground.

I think you are a bit off the mark there - since when did Kinloch or the esplanade be prone to flooding?

[hoots the scoop]

Why were there no alternatives?

Anyone with half an ounce of sense knows the School Playing Fields are prone to severe flooding and a joint school was a no go.

Is it not a sickner for parents in this area to see nothing happening while Lochgilphead gets a new school only 30 years after their last one? Dalintober and Castlehill are far from ideal buildings and the Grammar School is...., well you know!