COUNCIL PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

21 MAY, 2013: ACADEMY

QUESTIONS/POINTS RESPONSE RAISED 1. Regarding Campus £4.4 would be spent on Kilmarnock Academy and would expenditure – what consist of: external roofing, rotting/lead/flat roof/stone work would the £10m be repairs/windows and internal walls, floors, stairs, heating spent on in Option 1? and electrical repairs.

It was emphasised that this figure only relates to maintaining the building and not improving it. 2. How are new build costs Revenue savings are mainly through staffing coast and off- set? Facilities Management. Capital costs are based on funding formula. 3. Are staff members/pupil Evidence identifies quality of teaching and not teacher/class ratios not better with ratios as having the biggest impact on educational smaller schools? attainment. Schools are staffed by using the same formula. Bigger schools should not mean larger classes.

Efficiencies would be achieved as a result of one building requiring for example one kitchen staff, janitorial staff etc.

There would also be improved running costs relating to energy efficiency – based on likely construction costs. 4. How will the build be The building will be funded through a joint initiative between funded? the Scottish Government through the Scottish Futures Trust and East Ayrshire Council. Details are contained within the Proposal Document. 5. Did Grange and St Yes Joseph’s come in on budget? 6. Can EAC state that There will be a market-check of all costs. there will be no over budget spend.

A mainline sewer was There will be a full scale ground investigation supported by a found under the Sports contingency fund. Public utility services. Such eventualities Centre – will this cannot be ruled out, but due diligence is required to be happen again? exercised. 7. Comment from No comment sought. Kilmarnock Academy representative highlighted that the site in Hill Street would offer excellent re Further Education (FE) links and that Employability opportunities would be enhanced. 8. How would pupil Pupils would be supported by the current School Transport transport cost be Policy. reduced by the Hill Street site? 9. Are we stifling our Kilmarnock College (KC) already has close links with East aspirations for our Ayrshire schools. Benefits highlighted include sports, children by focussing on creative and vocational opportunities. KC is excelling in the close proximity to providing a range of courses and opportunities. Kilmarnock College or Asda/Morrison’s? 10. Do Grange and St Grange and St Joseph’s pupils currently benefit and either Joseph’s pupils walk or are transported. The added value for Hill Street Site currently benefit? would be the close proximity to the secondary school.

The head teacher of Grange Academy highlighted that Grange pupils currently walk to Kilmarnock College. 11. Point raised regarding A traffic impact assessment has already been carried out by roads and increased Kilmarnock College. vehicle usage and traffic congestion. Traffic management will be part of the planned programme of work. Examples of this happening include roundabout and traffic lights at Grange. This is modelled on peak time flows.

Would extra spend be As a key part of statutory planning, a detailed traffic impact incurred? assessment would be carried out and contingency funding would be available.

12. What are the Each site proposal has benefits and these are outlined in the advantages of a joint proposal document. campus? FW talked about the size of Grange Campus (1500 pupils) as being similar to that of JHA + KA + Silverwood PS + New Farm PS and Early Childhood Centre.

The 5-18 Campus was highlighted as being a very effective and beneficial learning environment and that a 3 – 18 campus would be even more advantageous. Some examples given by FW included P6/P7 pupils accessing the science lab and the positive impact of the Community Sports Leader Award pupils working with primary pupils. Other advantages include school shows/concerts and shared sports facility.

There is also a range of work experience possibilities within the primary school for secondary school students.

Learning Community schools also work hard to ensure the best transition arrangements and opportunities for those primary schools not campus-located. 13. Are there any Practicalities such as staggered lunch breaks are managed disadvantages? through timetabling. Disruption by period bells is similarly minimised. School days are staggered to ensure ease of pupil access and exit traffic. 14. Why not two individual There are advantages relating to shared facilities while buildings? establishments also retain their individual identity. This was reinforced by Alan Ward (AW) who referred to the positive experience of St Joseph’s and St Andrew’s.

There are also positive effects from young pupils seeing older siblings around the campus. 15. What would be the The merger would mean the creation of a ‘new school’ but impact on staffing eg HT the overall pupil/staff formula will remain. There would and PT subject? however be an overall reduction in management posts in any new structure e.g. two PT Maths posts would become one PT Maths post.

Regarding timeline, there will be about 4 years to plan towards any revised staffing structure and any impact on staff would be carried out through the required Human Resources (HR) processes, with due consideration of the educational needs of pupils and consultation with staff and Senior Management Teams (SMT). 16. Tone of meeting is Regarding heritage, there would be due consideration focussing on a new regarding the name of the school – Kilmarnock Academy, build. What about the James Hamilton Academy or the possibility of another heritage, history and name. The examples given regarding new names were iconic building position? Willowbank School and New Primary School.

Both establishments have equally proud traditions. James Hamilton Academy has moved once. Kilmarnock Academy has moved 3 times. Both have retained their proud heritage.

In a new school, the best of both can be brought together. (Dux boards and war memorials). Consideration will be given to issues like these.

Care will be taken with the future of the traditional Kilmarnock Academy sandstone building and town centre skyline.

17. Comment was made No response sought. that Kilmarnock Academy holds a unique place in Scottish History e.g. 2 Nobel Prize Winners with Eaton being the only other UK school to have achieved this accolade. 18. What is the legality of This will be investigated, if necessary. moving the war memorial? 19. The old Kilmarnock The Rennie Street Office site has been approved for Town Academy building has a Centre housing. The lower building is owned by the Catholic special place in the Church. EAC Estates Department will investigate future locality. Pupils love the development possibilities for Kilmarnock Academy site. feeling of the old building. What will happen to the area – eg St Columba’s building? For Kilmarnock College, there will also be range of What about old KC possibilities through option appraisal supported by Scottish building? Losing town Government. facilities and adverse impact on town and locality 20. Comment was made No response sought. regarding the potential loss of a town centre build and the resultant detrimental impact on town centre. 21. Comment was made No response sought. that this should be a consultation on the education of children and young people, not on the regeneration of the town centre. Reference was then made to the financial packages relating to each option highlighting the monetary value of option 4 and the financial saving £7.6 million. 22. Is there a zoning issue – There are no plans to re-zone. Catchment areas will be the will there be a re- same. Any re-zoning will require statutory consultation. zoning?

KA zone has changed 23. If school was merged, The department would wish the school to take steps to are there any plans to reach out to its community wherever the new build. allow pupils to continue to enjoy their close links with the town centre? 24. Concern was raised The department is mindful of the building and fabric reports regarding specific regarding Silverwood and of the need for a new build. primary school issues – e.g. state of building at If option 2 was preferred, then there would be a full Silverwood Primary consultation re primary build and site.

School transport costs are outlined in the Proposal Document.

25. Concerns were raised There are robust transition arrangements already in place in regarding pupils who schools across the authority to support pupils at this key are not at Silverwood time in their educational and social development. Primary or New Farm Primary – will they miss out?

26. Is Cabinet going to take Yes, these issues will form part of the decision making account of green process. site/brown site issues? 27. What Sporting facilities Options were discussed and visits to St Joseph’s and will be available at Hill Grange were offered. Street? The process surrounding the site options in the consultation document were outlined. There is a statement of intent re Hill Street site, but emphasised that no decision has been taken.

The proposal document fairly and clearly includes the benefits of joint campuses and site and financial package.

Initial bid was for 3 – 18 campus. The Scottish Futures Trust awarded a lower level of funding and so the council had to consider the implications of this which are outlined in the proposal document. 28. Comment was made No comment sought. that it is more than the access to facilities which impacts on the success of school. 29. Comment was made No comment sought. regarding the Hill Street option relating to perceived issues of the local area – drug users for example. Anxieties were also expressed relating to the close proximity to Kilmarnock College and the perception of issues of 13 year old girls and 17+ year old male students.

Build for the future – go for the 3 – 18 campus, save £7m and get the best environment for our children – go for Option 4. 30. How much of the £10m Funding would be spent on the up-keep of the building option will be spent in regarding health and safety, accessibility and supporting the the short term re Option continuity of learning and teaching. 1? It was highlighted that in Grange in 2003, EAC invested to support learning and teaching. 31. Point raised re £5million Heating system/roofs will be short-term fixes rather than spend during new build. more expensive long-term works.

Can we have these Details will be made available for anyone requesting them. details?