North Lanarkshire Council Report To: The Education Committee Subject: Review of non-denominational primary school provision for Cumbernauld village and areas north of the A80 From: Director of Education Date: October 1999 Ref: MON/MM Purpose and Content The attached report is a consultative document which reviews the education provision for primary age non-denominational pupils living in Cumbernauld Village and areas north of the A80. The relocation of Cumbernauld Primary School is proposed. Recommendations It is recommended that: 1 The Education Committee agrees to adopt the following proposals: that Cumbernauld Primary School be relocated in a new school building in Carrickstone, north of the Eastfield Road, in accordance with the map shown in appendix 2. that the catchment area of the new school include Cumbernauld Village, Craigmarloch east of the Craighalbert roundabout, Carrickstone, Westerwood, Dullatur and Castlecary, in accordance with the map in appendix 2. that Craigmarloch, west of the Craighalbert roundabout, be zoned to Eastfield Primary School, in accordance with the map as shown in appendix 2. that from August 2000 the catchment area of the new school, as in (b) above, be zoned to the existing Cumbernauld Primary School as an interim arrangement. that from August 2000, children living in rural areas currently zoned to Cumbernauld Primary School be rezoned to Melrose, Whitelees and Eastfield Primary Schools in accordance with the map in appendix 3. 2 this report be issued as a consultative document and made available to all interested parties. 3 all interested parties, including the relevant school boards, be asked to make written representations on the proposal to the Director of Education, Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, no later than 30 November 1999. 4 the Director of Education prepare a report on the result of the consultative process for consideration at a future meeting of the education committee. Members wishing further information regarding the attached report should contact: Michael O’Neill, Director of Education on 01236-812336 Murdo Maciver, Head of Service on 01236-812269 North Lanarkshire Council Department of Education Review of Non-Denominational Primary School Provision for Cumbernauld Village and areas north of the AS0 Report bv the Director of Education 1 Background 1.1 At its meeting in September 1998, the education committee considered the current provision of primary schools in the authority and agreed that priority should be given to a review of schools in Cumbernauld 1.2 The main concerns underpinning this decision are the following. In aggregate, there are too many primary school places and closures can be justified on value for money grounds. In addition, there exists a geographical disparity between school location and housing developments. The provision of schools north of the A80 is inadequate and pupils are zoned to relatively distant schools on the south side of the town. 1.3 In broad terms, the committee approved for Cumbernauld: (a) the development of new provision north of the A80 and the possible consolidation of existing primary schools in the town. (b) the retention by education of any capital receipts and revenue savings from the area and their allocation to the building of the new schools north of the A80 and the upgrading of the remaining primary schools. 2 Location of Cumbernauld Primary School 2.1 The location of Cumbernauld Primary School is shown in appendix 1. The school’s current catchment area includes Cumbernauld Village, Dullatur, Castlecary, Croy and the rural areas to the south of the Cumbernauld, as shown in appendix 3. 2.2 The areas to the north of the A80 have been zoned to primary schools to the south of Cumbernauld Town as shown below. Area to the North of the A80 Catchment School Craigmarloch Langlands Primary Carrickstone Carbrain Primary Westerwood Glenhead Primary These areas are shown in appendix 1. 3 Projected Maintenance Expenditure 3.1 Cumbernauld Primary School requires substantial refurbishment and the ideal maintenance expenditure for the five year period 1999 - 2004 is:- School Maintenance Costs Cumbernauld Primary School E3 16,730 Details of the five year ideal expenditure are as follows:- Element Projected Expenditure Electrical re-wiring E75,OOO External decoration E 7,500 Fencingiboundary walls &12,980 Floor coverings &34,500 Internal decoration E30,OOO Mechanical installation E42,500 Roofs E60.000 I Windows &54,250 Cumbernauld Primary School is presently housed on a site which is inadequate for the current school roll. In addition, playground space and car parking space are inadequate and traffic access to the campus is very difficult. The above maintenance expenditure will not solve these inadequacies but merely maintain the status quo. 3.2 The accommodation at Cumbernauld Primary School consists of 13 classrooms, gymnasium, dining hall/kitchen, a project/activity area, 2 tutorialh-esource rooms and the usual ancillary facilities including toilets, storage areas, janitation facilities and offices. The school has no ramp for access by physically impaired pupils. It does have an adapted toilet. The school has no playing field within its grounds and the playground space is inadequate for the present roll. Access to the car park is via a narrow entrance and car parking places are barely sufficient. 3.3 Based on a maximum class size of 30 in P1 to P3, the school has a capacity of 41 1 and has a current occupancy level of 99%. The current and projected roll, including existing placing requests and new housing is as follows:- I Roll I 407 I 439 I 455 I 457 I 456 I 4 Arguments for Change 4.1 The Cumbernauld Primary School building has a current occupancy level of 99%, as detailed in 3.3. If the number of pupils wishing to enrol at Cumbernauld Primary School including placing requests continues at the present level, the building will have insufficient accommodation. However, there is little potential for rebuilding on the existing school site. The site area is small and playground facilities for the current roll is inadequate. 4.2 The current roll of Cumbernauld Primary School is 407. This roll contains pupils from the following areas north of the A80 which lie outwith the catchment of Cumbernauld Primary School:- I Area(s) I Catchment School I Number of Puds I Craigmarloch Langlands Primary 10 Carrickstone Carbrain Primary 161 Westerwood Glenhead Primarv 76 The number of pupils attending Cumbernauld Primary School from locations to the north of the A80 outwith its delineated area is 247. This indicates that current zoning arrangements are not meeting the needs of many parents and require to be re-examined. The school is not geographically well located in its catchment area. 4.3 The area to the north of the A80 and east of Balloch which includes Craigmarloch, Carrickstone, Westerwood, Dullatur and Castlecary is rapidly expanding and currently has no local primary schools. It is clear that from the existing school provision in the town Cumbernauld Primary School is the preferred option for most parents in these areas. 4.4 The accommodation available in Cumbernauld Primary School is inadequate for the needs of the modern primary curriculum. 5 The proposal for Cumbernauld Primary School and areas north of the A80 5.1 The following is the proposed solution to the problem described previously: (1) Cumbernauld Primary School should be relocated to a new primary school building in the Carrickstone area of Cumbernauld. The location of the new school is shown in appendix 2. (2) The catchment area for the new school should include Cumbernauld Village, Craigmarloch to the east of the Craighalbert Roundabout, Carrickstone, Dullatur, Westerwood and Castlecary as shown in appendix 2. (3) The area of Craigmarloch to the west of the Craighalbert Roundabout, which is currently zoned to Langlands Primary School, should be re-zoned to Eastfield Primary School as shown in appendix 2. (4) The catchment area for the new school, as in 2 above, should be zoned to Cumbernauld Primary School as an interim arrangement. (5) Children living in rural areas currently zoned to Cumbernauld Primary School should be re-zoned to non-denominational primary schools closer to home, as shown in appendix 3. (6) The new school building should be on a campus shared with a new denominational school. The schools will be staffed separately but will share a common staff room, dining facilities, P.E./ Assembly areas and children’s play areas. The building will also have accommodation for pre-school provision. 5.2 Implications 5.2.1, The proposal will be a major benefit to the pupils and the wider community. The school will be purpose-built to meet the accommodation and resource requirements of the modern primary curriculum. The facility will also be available to the wider community. 5.2.2. New School Roll If all primary school children living in the proposed catchment area attend the new school, it would have a current roll of 489. Taking account of new housing, the roll projection for the new non- denominational school would be:- I Roll I 489 552 564 567 569 5.2.3 Staffing The relocation of Cumbernauld Primary School will have some implications for teaching and non-teaching staff. Existing staff would be relocated in the new school building. In addition, all members of staff will be fully consulted about any implications as will the appropriate trade unions. The particular wishes of each member of staff will be taken into account. The relocated school would benefit from a temporary enhancement of staffing standards. The enhancement shall be for two school sessions and would be as follows:- I School I Teacher Enhancement I I Relocated Cumbernauld Primary School I 2 FTE 5.2.4 Transport In accordance with North Lanarkshire Council’s transport policy, free transport will be provided for children living more than one mile away from their local primary school by the shortest, safe walking route.