THIS REPORT RELATES TO ITEM 15(B) ON THE AGENDA
STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICES
11 APRIL 1996
PROPOSED CLOSURE OF CROFTAMIE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Purpose of Report
The attached report is a consultative document which proposes the closure of Croftamie Primary School and the transfer of pupils to Drymen Primary School.
Recommendations
It is recommended that Stirling Council agrees to adopt the proposal that:-
Either – A i) Croftamie Primary School be closed with effect from 28 June 1995. ii) The pupils of Croftamie Primary School transfer to Drymen Primary School from the start of session 1996/97. iii) The vacated Croftamie building be converted for use as a Family Centre providing a range of pre-five services. iv) The pre-five service provided at Buchanan Primary School be discontinued and transferred to Croftamie when the building is ready, around Easter 1997. v) A one classroom extension be built at Drymen Primary School for the start of session 1997/98 to accommodate the long term projected rise in pupil numbers.
Or – B i) An extension be built at Drymen Primary School to provide additional accommodation for classroom and pre-five services. ii) Croftamie Primary School be closed at the end of June 1997. iii) The pupils of Croftamie Primary School transfer to Drymen Primary School from the start of session 1997/98 iv) The pre-five service provided at Buchanan Primary School be discontinued and transferred to Drymen Primary School when the extension is ready by August 1997. -2-
It is also recommended that:- i) This report be issued as a consultative document and made available to all interested parties. ii) Public meetings be arranged in the schools by the Director of Education Services to explain the reasons for the proposals and hear the views of the community. iii) All interested parties, including the relevant school boards, are invited to make written comments on the proposal to Gordon Jeyes, Director of Education Services, Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET no later than Wednesday 15 May 1996. iv) The Director of Education Services prepare a report on the results of the consultation for consideration at a future meeting of the council. v) It is further recommended that should option A or option B be agreed, the Director will report to the Children’s Committee on the development of the pre-five services in the area.
Gordon Jeyes
Director of Education Services -3-
DRAFT
STIRLING COUNCIL: EDUCATION SERVICES
CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT
Report by Director of Education
CLOSURE OF CROFTAMIE PRIMARY SCHOOL
This document has been issued by Stirling Council for consultation in terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation etc) (Scotland) Regulations 1981 and Amendment Regulations 1987 and 1988. -4-
STIRLING COUNCIL: EDUCATION SERVICES
This is a consultative document
CLOSURE OF CROFTAMIE PRIMARY SCHOOL
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The past decade has seen a significant reduction, nationally, in the primary school pupil population without a corresponding reduction in the costs of running and maintaining school buildings.
1.2 This means that an increased proportion of school budgets is spent on vacant pupil places rather than on the education of the children who are in attendance, leading to increased unit costs per pupil without educational advantage.
1.3 Closure or amalgamation of schools can bring benefits of better value for money, provision of improved resources and facilities, better curricular and extra-curricular opportunities and the redirection of money saved to upgrading buildings to meet modern curricular requirements or accommodation pre-five service developments.
1.4 These considerations have led Stirling Council to examination of the possible closure of Croftamie Primary School.
2.0 PRESENT SITUATION
2.1 Croftamie Primary School consists of a main building of 1920s origin comprising 2 classrooms now opened into one long room. There is a small entrance hall at the front of the building and a kitchen and cloakroom at the back. There is a separate block outside providing storage, cycle shed, and toilet accommodation. The grounds provide a tarmac play area, a small grass kick about area, and a wild garden corner. The school has one class of 8 pupils and accommodation for 50.
2.2 The position of the school and its delineated are shown in the map in Appendix A.
2.3 The general state of the building is satisfactory and external painting is due. Recent work has been done on the slate roof but further work is required. Window replacement is planned.
2.4 Drymen Primary School is 1.7 miles from Croftamie Primary School. It is a modern building opened in 1991. In addition to the usual ancillary accommodation it consists of a large hall available for games, lunches, and community use. It has 4 classrooms units which are relatively small with additional educational space in open areas, in glass fronted areas shared between pairs of classrooms, and a small circular brick area in each classroom. At either end of the building are circular areas up in the roof space and accessed by spiral stairs. These are used as a library and a resource area respectively. -5-
This imaginative design provides great flexibility for the children attending there but the extra educational space is too fragmented to provide teaching space for an additional class. The working capacity of the building is reasonably regarded as 100. It might be regarded as higher than 100, say 108, with an additional teacher working with small groups extracted from classes in the open areas within the school. There are 96 children on the roll.
2.5 The position of the school and its delineated area are shown on the map in Appendix B.
3.0 PROJECTED FUTURE ROLLS
3.1 Year Croftamie Drymen Total 1996/97 7 99 106 1997/98 8 102 110 1998/99 7 107 114 1999/00 7 113 120 2000/01 7 113 120
3.2 Very limited housing development is expected at Croftamie and no expectations of increasing pupil roll. Drymen, on the other hand, has a current development of housing association dwellings which have already increased the roll of Drymen Primary School in this session. A further 20 houses in Drymen could be built in terms of the local plan, increasing the pressure on the school. Seventeen children currently on the roll of Drymen Primary School are there by placing request and further requests can be expected (though may have to be refused).
4.0 EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
4.1 Present provision at Croftamie is based in a traditional village building with outside toilets but the school is in fair condition, is well resourced, and supported by visiting teachers of music, art, physical education, craft and learning support.
The headteacher has promoted activities within the community and links with other schools and it is recognised that much good teaching and learning goes on there. Drymen Primary is however a modern building designed for modern curriculum requirements and a larger school can provide greater opportunities for social interaction with children of the same age, improving opportunities for group activity and discussion and through economies of scale an increased range of materials, equipment and after school activities.
4.2 There is a considerable demand for pre five services in the Buchanan, Drymen, Croftamie area. Stirling Council hopes to expand pre five provision and a development fund has been identified to start the expansion. This fund requires to be augmented from rationalisation of existing expenditure. The limited provision in this area is at Buchanan Primary School and it is not well accommodated. It is hoped to relocate this provision as part of a new pre five development in this area. -6-
5.0 PROPOSAL
5.1 Against this background of over capacity and balance of educational advantage the following options are proposed:
Either – A
i) Croftamie Primary School be closed with effect from 28 June 1995 and
ii) The pupils of Croftamie Primary School transfer to Drymen Primary School from the start of session 1996/97.
iii) The vacated Croftamie building be converted for use as a family centre providing a range of pre five services.
iv) The pre five service provided at Buchanan Primary School be discontinued and transferred to Croftamie when the building is ready, around Easter 1997.
v) A one classroom extension be built at Drymen Primary School for the start of session 1997/98 to accommodate the long term projected rise in pupil numbers.
Or – B
i) An extension be built at Drymen Primary School to provide additional accommodation for classroom and pre five services.
ii) Croftamie Primary School be closed at the end of June 1997 and
iii) The pupils of Croftamie Primary School transfer to Drymen Primary School from the start of session 1997/98.
iv) The pre five service provided at Buchanan Primary School be transferred to Drymen Primary School when the extension is ready by August 1997.
6.0 CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSAL
6.1 Employees – the closure of Croftamie Primary School will have implications for teaching staff and other employees. All staff will be consulted about their future as will the appropriate trade unions. The particular wishes of members of staff will be taken into account.
6.2 The staffing complement of Drymen Primary School would increase to meet the increased pupil roll.
6.3 Free transport will be provided for existing Croftamie pupils to Drymen Primary School until they leave. Thereafter the policies in force at the time till apply.
6.4 No change is required in arrangements for secondary education resulting from this closure. -7-
7.0 FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
7.1 The estimated net annual savings from the closure of the Croftamie Primary School would be £33,425 in a full financial year, £59,675 in the first year. (For details see Appendix C.)
Should either option be agreed the Director of Education Services will report to the Children’s Committee on the proposed pre five developments and their detailed costings. The development is expected to have revenue costs of £60,000 and capital costs of £90,000 (£60,000 for Croftamie and £30,000 for Drymen) for option A, or £75,000 and £50,000 respectively for option B.
8.0 FUTURE USE OF THE BUILDING
8.1 Under option A the Croftamie building would accommodate the pre five family centre. Under option B the building would be declared surplus to requirements and sold (assuming no title restrictions). There is a small amount of community use of the building – a craft class, WRI and community meetings. Under option A these could probably continue. Under option B they would require to relocate to various centres in Drymen.
9.0 DATE OF PROPOSED CLOSURE
It is recommended that the council adopt the proposals that:
i) Croftamie Primary School be closed with effect from 28 June 1996.
ii) The pupils of Croftamie Primary School transfer to Drymen Primary School from the start of session 1996/97.
iii) The vacated Croftamie building be converted for use as a family centre providing a range of pre five services.
iv) The pre five service provided at Buchanan Primary School be discontinued and transferred to Croftamie when the building is ready, around Easter 1997.
v) A one classroom extension be built at Drymen Primary School for the start of session 1997/98 to accommodate the long term projected rise in pupil numbers.
Or – B
i) An extension be built at Drymen Primary School to provide additional accommodation for classroom and pre five services.
ii) Croftamie Primary School be closed at the end of June 1997 and
iii) The pupils of Croftamie Primary School transfer to Drymen Primary School from the start of session 1997/98. -8-
iv) The pre five service provided at Buchanan Primary School be transferred to Drymen Primary School when the extension is ready by August 1997.
10.2 It is also recommended that:
i) This report be issued as a consultative document and made available to all interested parties.
ii) Public meetings be arranged in the schools by the Director of Education Services to explain the reasons for the proposals and hear the view of the community.
iii) All interested parties, including the relevant school boards, are invited to make written comments on the proposal to Gordon Jeyes, Director of Education Services, Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET no later than Saturday 18 May 1996.
iv) The Director of Education Services prepare a report on the results of the consultation for consideration at a future meeting of the council.
v) It is further recommended that should option A or option B be agreed, the Director will report to the Children’s Committee on the development of the pre five service in the area.
11.0 In terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc) (Scotland) Regulations the implementation of this proposal does not require the consent of the Secretary of State. The local member of parliament will be consulted as an interested party.
Gordon Jeyes Director of Education Services March 1996 -9-
APPENDIX C
Financial Implications of the Closure of Croftamie Primary School
Projected Savings
1996/97 Annually Thereafter £ £ Staff costs (17,475) Note (27,960) Note Property costs ( 6,150) ( 9,840) Supplies and services ______( 320)
(23,625) (38,120)
If Option B
Add
Costs Avoidance of roof work (25,000) Avoidance of window replacement (10,000) Avoidance of access improvements ( 5,000) ______
(63,625) (38,120)
Less Additional transport costs 3,050 4,875 Cost of removing and transferring 1,500 equipment (59,675) (33,245)
Note: Projected savings take account of increased staff allocations reflecting increased roll consequent of pupils transferring to Drymen primary school.
Capital Receipts
No capital receipt is anticipated under Option A. £80,000 could be achieved by sale (assuming no restriction on title) under Option B.