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Education & Children’s Services

REPORT TO EDUCATION & CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMITTEE – 21 MARCH 2019

LEARNING ESTATES STRATEGY: UPDATE

1 Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

1.1 Note and comment on progress regarding the continued development of the Learning Estate (as detailed in Appendix 1).

2 Background / Discussion

2.1 Work Beyond

The work of the Learning Estates Team is continuing to be recognised beyond Aberdeenshire. The Quality Improvement Manager (QIM) delivered a session at the Scottish Education Buildings Conference in November, 2018, to showcase the work of the Aberdeenshire Primary Brief. The QIM is now the lead for Sustaining Education across the Northern Alliance. This will ensure best practice will continue to be shared and sought to benefit learners, staff and communities within Aberdeenshire.

2.2 The Learning Estates Team manages and prioritises budgets for the following:

• Educational enhancements • Capital projects for Education and Children’s Service (E&CS) • 1140 Early Learning and Childcare projects

In May, 2018, the budgets for Improved Disabled Access and Support for Learning were also moved to the Learning Estates Team.

2.3 The temporary accommodation review and implementation is continuing; a briefing is also provided in Appendix 2. This is in accordance with the strategic principles as set out by the Learning Estates Board:

• Restricting the use of temporary accommodation to the solution of short-term capacity problems. • Phasing out the use of existing temporary accommodation as soon as is reasonably possible.

2.4 Priorities for 2019/20

Officers are currently focussing on the priority areas discussed below in 2.5 – 2.14. Projects not currently in the Capital Plan will be subject to a robust business scoring programme to ensure that they are justifiable against wider corporate priorities. All projects progressed during this period will endeavour to reduce the E&CS impact on the Carbon Budget. Item: 8 Page: 28

2.5 Developing A Strategic Approach To The Learning Estate

Aberdeenshire Council is undertaking a review of the Learning Estate. This is a holistic approach focussing on a geographical area/cluster basis. All schools are being assessed against a range of factors, including educational, school roll, community planning, building, rural sustainability and staffing arrangement factors. A briefing has been given to all area committees, and senior officers have met with Parent Council Chairs across Aberdeenshire. Community engagement is being planned for 2019.

2.6 Aberdeenshire-Wide Priorities - Education

• Analysis of new Suitability Core Facts and reports provided for each area.

• A review of Secondary Capacities – to be in line with Primary Schools, incorporating temporary accommodation into the published capacities.

• The creation of a briefing document to ensure a strategic approach to accessibility.

• Continuation of Skype telephony roll-out.

• Audit of provision in Enhanced Provision and Community Resource Hubs by ASPECTS.

2.7 Community Campus

The works are progressing to timescale and the Community Campus is due to open in March, 2020.

2.8 Community Campus

• Work has been furthered with other Services to look at Peterhead from a Place Based Review process, which considers Peterhead holistically through a master planning approach. There is a Peterhead Master Planning Board.

• Full Council agreed to include this project in the Capital Plan. The timescale for construction and delivery is 2023-2025.

• Public Engagement took place in February and March, 2019, to seek further involvement from the community on the options being considered.

• Progress through to the next gateway stage.

• Regular stakeholder group meetings to be held.

2.9 Network

• Following on from an extended series of public engagement sessions spanning 2014-2018, in order to develop the options further, Architecture and Design supported work with the local community. This identified town-wide priorities in a One Community, holistic approach, using the principles of Place Based Review. Educationally, it is recognised that the suitability and condition of the current learning estate in Fraserburgh town and subsequent educational Item: 8 Page: 29 benefit needs to remain as the driver. The holistic approach will also aim to deliver the required enhancement to deliver 1140 hours within the Early Learning and Childcare expansion plans.

• A business case has been developed, assessing the impact of the emerging options.

• Further engagement will take place with the wider community upon confirmation of a funding stream to deliver the project.

2.10 School

Options are being explored to expand the core facility and meet the needs of 1140.

2.11 Secondary and Primary School Enhancements

• , - a programme of works will take place to enhance the external courtyard, known locally as the Brunton area, to improve social, breakout and learning experiences at the academy.

• Academy - the pool hall and changing rooms, once vacated, will be converted to create additional dining and social space whilst providing enough flexibility that the space can also be used as a timetabled learning space and library space. The area should also allow for free use by pupils and staff for small group work or self-study. Good practice learned from the development of the learning plaza spaces at other Aberdeenshire secondaries will be incorporated into the design, using a variety of furniture and floor coverings to create flexibility.

• – work is progressing to accommodate subjects currently taught within the Academy Annexe building into the main campus by refurbishing existing space. Construction is expected to commence in June, 2019, with a second phase of work to upgrade Home Economics in Summer, 2020. Upon completion of the phase 1 work, Fraserburgh Academy will become a single site school.

• Academy – a whole school assessment has been carried out to develop a phased programme of improvements to the academy. Officers are developing a prioritised programme of work to be delivered, including identifying available budgets.

• School – a one class extension at Old Rayne School. Due to a rising roll and existing capacity issues, there is a requirement for additional teaching space and toilet. Construction is expected to start in Spring, 2019.

• Hillside School - provision of 4 extra classrooms at Hillside School to accommodate a rising pupil roll was agreed at Area Committee in November, 2018. The extension is anticipated to be operational by August, 2020.

• Premnay School – due to a rising roll and current temporary accommodation offering limited educational opportunities, a one class extension is required, with temporary accommodation being removed after completion. Officers are currently assessing options and finalising a business case. Item: 8 Page: 30

2.12 Early Learning and Childcare 1140 Delivery

• Following on from the 1140 programme tender exercise, the overall programme of works to enhance and/or expand local authority provision will commence from Summer, 2019, and continue throughout 2020. The programme of works will include new-build Nursery provision in Peterhead, , and , alongside large-scale refurbishment projects in Ellon and Westhill.

• Gordon Primary School - Contract for the new-build Nursery is out for tender and the project is targeted for completion in December, 2019. It will be operational by Spring, 2019.

• Portlethen Primary School - Refurbished and expanded Nursery provision due to open for August, 2019.

2.13 Live Life Aberdeenshire The following have been identified as priorities for 2019/20:

• Agree an Outdoor Facilities Strategy that makes best use of our open spaces for the promotion of healthy living and visitor attraction.

• Develop innovative approaches to management of outdoor spaces in Peterhead and Portlethen.

• Development of a Live Life Aberdeenshire Asset strategy.

• Open Banchory Sports Village, a major sport and physical activity development, to the public during the summer of 2019.

2.14 Capital Projects

Work continues on a range of capital projects across Education & Children’s Services.

Capital Project Overview and Timescale

Current Projects – New Builds Facility Opening Gordon Primary School Nursery January, 2020 Banchory Community and Sports Summer, 2019 Facility Inverurie Community Campus March, 2020

Current Projects – Extensions Facility Start Completion Date Old Rayne School April, August, 2019 2019 Hillside School TBC TBC Ellon Primary School 29 April, 18 October 2019 Kitchen 2019 Portlethen Primary May, August, 2019 School Nursery 2019 Item: 8 Page: 31

2.15 The Head of Finance and Monitoring Officer within Business Services have been consulted in the preparation of this report and their observations have been incorporated in the report. They are satisfied that the report complies with the Scheme of Governance and relevant legislation.

3 Scheme of Governance

3.1 The Committee is able to consider and take a decision on this item in terms of Section E7.1.2 of the List of Committee Powers in Part 2A of the Scheme of Governance, as it relates to receiving an annual report of Education-related activity.

4 Implications and Risk

4.1 An equality impact assessment is not required because this report is providing updates to existing projects and is not changing policy. Equality impact assessments are carried out for each project at initiation, and reviewed throughout.

4.2 There are no staffing or financial implications arising from this report.

4.3 The following Risks have been identified as relevant to this matter on a Corporate Level: Social Risk – demographic change leading to unexpected change in pupil numbers and the ability of the estate to deliver education. http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/21264/aberdeenshire-corporate- risks.pdf. The following Risks have been identified as relevant to this matter on a Strategic Level: Developing Excellence and Equality – the ability of the estate to adapt to changes at local and national level. http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/21265/directorate-risks.pdf

Laurence Findlay Director of Education & Children’s Services

Report prepared by Maxine Booth Quality Improvement Manager Date: 27 February, 2019

Item: 8 APPENDIX 1 Page: 32

From mountain to sea

Learning Estates Update 2018-19

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From mountain to sea Appendix 1 - Learning Estates Update 2018/19

The Learning Estates Team have continued to make progress over the last year both across Aberdeenshire as a whole and in each of the six Council areas. These projects include:

Across Aberdeenshire

• A strategic review of all Early Learning and Childcare local authority provision completed, to ensure that Aberdeenshire Council can meet the level of increased entitlement.

• Completion of 84 site visits of all Local Authority Nursery provision to assess design, capacity and enhancement requirements for delivery of 1140.

• Delivery programme of works for 1140 hours approved by Education & Children’s Services Committee.

• Skype telephony deployed at the same time as the IT upgrades in 88 primary schools.

• Primary schools in Huntly, , Banff, Turriff, Fraserburgh and clusters as well as Academies of Peterhead, Meldrum and Portlethen were provided with new IT devices and were migrated over to a new Windows 10 system during 2018/19.

• A new Aberdeenshire Specialist Technology Service model has been approved and introduced. Consultancy model now provides bespoke support for pupils within Enhanced Provision and Community Resource Hub Schools.

• The Primary Capacity Review implemented August 2018.

• Secondary Admission Limits have been revised in line with latest roll projections.

• Establishment of a pro-active maintenance regime for the council’s stock of Synthetic Pitches.

• Work with individual schools to identify solutions to short term peaks in pupil numbers.

• Response provided to all planning consultations on behalf of Education & Children’s Services.

• Implementation of the new Condition and Suitability Core Facts work books.

• Processing of 1078 placing requests.

• Audit of changing places in Secondary schools. Page 2 of 9

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From mountain to sea

Banff &

Fraserburgh Network – various engagement sessions held to refine options for the learning estate.

Pupils and staff of Fraserburgh North and St Andrew’s Schools visited Turriff Primary School to learn about new build primary schools. The pupils then presented their findings to parents and staff.

Finalised accommodation improvements at Fraserburgh Academy to consolidate the annexe building into the main campus.

Temporary Accommodation Unit removed at Fraserburgh Academy.

Completion of a refurbishment at Technical Department.

Banff Academy Technical Department Refurbishment

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From mountain to sea Buchan

Completion of the extension to School and removal of temporary accommodation.

Completion of the Learning Plaza project at .

Reconfiguration of the entrance area and school office at Clerkhill School, Peterhead to improve security and access arrangements at the school.

New outdoor play area at Peterhead Central Nursery.

Wifi services installed at Meethill Nursery.

Engagement meeting held with Dales Park Staff and Parents around the development of increased capacity at Dales Park Nursery and the potential for a new build option to relocate the current Nursery provision.

Consulted with Peterhead residents on their requirements for future culture and sport facilities, and fed information into the Campus and Masterplan project groups.

Options appraisal and development with public engagement for replacement Peterhead Community Campus.

Refurbishment completed at & St Johns School Nursery which opened in August 2018. Enhancements include larger play room floorspace, and upgraded support facilities such toilets, changing room and parent room. Peterhead Central Nursery also had a new free-flow outdoor play area established in the October holiday period.

Stuartfield School Extension Mintlaw Academy Learning Plaza

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From mountain to sea

Formartine

Temporary Accommodation removed at former Markethill School.

Accessible toilet and ramps installed at Auchterless School.

Reconfiguration of the Library Headquarters in to accommodate the Aberdeenshire Instrumental Music Service.

Plans completed for Ellon Primary School kitchen, due to be on site Spring 2019.

Workshop on requirements for the to Ellon Corridor held with elected members.

Preliminary discussions held with regarding solutions to future capacity pressures.

Library Headquarters, Oldmeldrum

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Garioch

A replacement of Kinellar School in Blackburn was opened in August 2018.

Reconfiguration of Crombie School in Westhill to create class areas and reception space to improve access and improved learning and teaching spaces, including removal of the temporary accommodation.

Inverurie Rezoning - informal engagement sessions were held in October 2018 at each of the three primary schools in Inverurie. A Statutory Consultation will commence in the summer of 2019.

Wifi installed at Port Elphinstone Nursery.

Refurbishment works completed at School.

Toilet block upgrade at School.

Relocation of the Educational Psychology Service and Child Strategy Team to Midmill School in Kintore, releasing a leased building.

Agreed the final specification of Culture and Sport Facilities at Inverurie Community Campus and developed a partnership approach to operating outdoor facilities at Kellands Park for the benefit of the school and local clubs.

Kinellar School, Blackburn Crombie School, Westhill

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Kincardine & Mearns

Completion of the extension to Bervie School providing increased Early Learning and Childcare provision, additional classroom space and improved dining experience.

Stonehaven rezoning exercise completed, with agreed catchment areas effective from August 2018.

Continued discussion with City Council to resolve the issue regarding the rezoning of Blairs.

Broadband and Wifi services installed at Crossroads Nursery.

Bervie School Nursery,

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From mountain to sea

Marr

Banchory Community and Sports Centre project continues with final specification agreed and construction underway.

Broadband and Wifi services installed at Ballogie Nursery.

Completion of the Learning Plaza project at .

Upgrade of a toilet block at Aboyne Academy and completion of phase 1 work to the support for learning spaces.

Upgrade to the school kitchen at Gordon Primary School, Huntly.

Reconfiguration of ASN spaces at Gordon Primary School.

Breakout and corridor enhancements to Aboyne Primary School.

Improvements to Alford Ski Slope.

Enhanced outdoor play environment for School Nursery.

Community engagement commenced on the future of Strachan School.

Aboyne Academy Learning Plaza Aboyne Primary, Breakout Improvements

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Condition & Suitability Assessments

The service aim is to continue to improve the suitability and condition of buildings, with the aim of improving these wherever possible.

The new approach launched in November 2017 for the core facts became active in 2018, therefore the grades below are the last reported figures on the previous version before the review. Figures submitted in 2019 for suitability will be using the new criteria. This will see numerous changes. A summary of the current core facts (2018) for each school is given in the tables below.

Suitability A B C D Improved Reduced Primary Schools 22 82 48 0 4 0 Secondary Schools 7 6 4 0 0 0 Special Schools 1 3 0 0 1 0

Condition A B C D Improved Reduced Primary Schools 16 135 1 0 0 0 Secondary 5 10 2 0 0 0 Schools Special Schools 0 4 0 0 0 0

In April 2018 the academies rated C for suitability were: Aboyne, Banchory, Inverurie and Peterhead. Inverurie and Peterhead academies were rated C for condition while Aboyne and Banchory were rated B.

All schools in Aberdeenshire will be assessed and moderated against the new suitability core fact in time for the Spring 2019 submission to the Scottish Government.

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Appendix 2 - Temporary Accommodation Review

Officers from the Learning Estates Team have been tasked with reviewing the temporary accommodation on site at our schools across Aberdeenshire.

As part of the review, officers have been carrying out desktop analysis and site visits where applicable to assess the viability of removing temporary units when possible.

Officers use current roll figures, forecast rolls and the condition and suitability surveys carried out by property and E&CS colleagues in 2015/16 as part of the decision-making process.

As part of this process we have also identified schools with a long-term requirement for additional capacity, which for some schools has resulted in a permanent extension or a reconfiguration of internal space.

The review is an ongoing process.

Units already removed from the estate Fraserburgh Academy, former Technical Block Kinellar School (3 x double units) Crombie School, Westhill (1 x double unit) Kinellar Nursery (1 x double unit) Former Markethill School, Turriff (1 x double unit & 1 x single unit) Former Inverurie Market Place School (2 storey building) Stuartfield School (1 x single unit)

Temporary Accommodation Proposed Removal Programme Financial Year School 19/20 Gordon Primary School (1 x double unit) Portlethen Primary School Kintore School (1 x double unit) Academy (1 x double unit)

20/21 Catterline School (1 x single unit) Mintlaw Academy (1 x double unit) Fishermoss School (2 x double units) Alehousewells School Midmar School

21/22 Hatton of Fintray School (subject to roll) (subject to roll) Kintore School (subject to roll) Page 1 of 4

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From mountain to sea The table below contains the condition and suitability gradings for each temporary unit and the action officers have taken. Banff & School Cluster Condition Suitability Primary Use Linked / Action Buchan Non- Linked King Edward Turriff B B Dining / Non- Retain Music & Linked Servery Lochpots Fraserburgh B B Nursery Non- Retain, requires Linked long term solution Rathen Fraserburgh B B Classroom Non- Retain, requires Linked long term solution Buchan School Cluster Condition Suitability Use Linked / Action Non- Linked Anna Ritchie Peterhead C B Art Room Non- Retain, requires Linked long term solution Burnhaven (Unit Peterhead C A Classrooms Non- Re-assess 1 & 2) Linked requirement relating to roll Mintlaw Mintlaw C C CLD Non- Remove Academy Linked Pitfour Mintlaw C B Classroom Non- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll School Cluster Condition Suitability Use Linked / Action Non- Linked Cultercullen Meldrum C C Classroom, Linked Retain (Units 1-3) Staffroom, GP Space

Daviot Meldrum B B Classroom Linked Re-assess requirement relating to roll Meldrum B B Classrooms Linked Retain

Turriff Academy Turriff B B Classroom Non- Remove Linked School Cluster Condition Suitability Use Linked / Action Non- Linked Alehousewells Kemnay B A Classroom Linked Remove

Chapel of Inverurie B A Classroom Linked Retain, costs to Garioch remove would be prohibitive Elrick Westhill C B Classroom Linked Re-assess requirement relating to roll Hatton (Fintray) Inverurie B B Classroom Non- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll Insch (Unit 1 & Huntly B B Classroom Linked Re-assess 2) requirement relating to roll Kemnay Kemnay A,B,A A Classrooms Non- Retain, requires Academy (Units Linked long term solution 1-4)

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Kemnay Primary Kemnay B A Dining / Linked Retain, costs to Kitchen remove would be prohibitive Kintore (Units Kemnay A B Classrooms Non- Unit 1 to be 1,2 & 3) Linked removed subject to costs. The other units will be part of the removal cycle Logie Durno Meldrum C B Classroom / Non- Removal would Unit 1 Staffroom Linked incur reconfiguration. Costs were prohibitive Logie Durno Meldrum B B GP / SFL Non- Removal would Unit 2 Linked incur reconfiguration. Costs were prohibitive New Machar Inverurie B A Classroom Non- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll (Unit 1 & Inverurie B, B A, B GP / Servery Linked Re-assess 2) & Classroom requirement relating to roll Port Elphinstone Inverurie C B Nursery & Non- Retain until Classrooms Linked outcome of Crichie Development is known Premnay Huntly B C Classroom Non- Remove Linked Skene Westhill B A Classroom Non- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll Kincardine School Cluster Condition Suitability Use Linked / Action & Mearns Non- Linked Auchenblae A A Classroom Non- Retain Linked Banchory Banchory C B Classroom Non- As per removal Academy Unit 1 Linked programme 2021/22 Banchory Banchory B A Classroom Non- Retain Academy Unit 2 Linked Bervie Stonehaven B B GP / Linked Re-assess Community requirement Use / relating to roll Classrooms Catterline Unit 1 Stonehaven B B Classroom Part- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll Catterline Unit 2 Stonehaven B B Classroom Part- As per removal Linked programme 2020/21 Dunnottar Stonehaven B B Classroom Non- Retain, requires Linked long term solution Fishermoss Portlethen C B GP / Nursery Linked As per removal programme 2020/21 Page 3 of 4

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Mackie Stonehaven B, A B Classrooms Linked Re-assess Academy (Units requirement 1-5) relating to roll Portlethen Portlethen C B Classroom Non- As per removal Primary Linked programme 2019/20 School Cluster Condition Suitability Use Linked / Action Non- Linked Aboyne Primary Aboyne B B Classroom & Linked Retain (Unit 1&2) Nursery

Ballater Aboyne B B Nursery Linked Retain

Crathes Banchory C C Classroom Non- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll Forgue Huntly B C Classroom Non- Re-assess Linked requirement relating to roll Gordon Primary Huntly B B Nursery & Non- Remove unit 2 (Unit 1 & 2) OOSC / SFL Linked and Re-assess Unit 1 requirement Largue Huntly B B Classroom / Non- Retain, costs to GP Linked remove would be prohibitive Midmar Alford B B GP Non- As per removal Linked programme 2020/21 Monymusk Alford B B Classroom / Linked Retain, costs to Main remove would be Entrance prohibitive Strachan Banchory A B Classroom Linked Re-assess once (Mothballed) future of school is determined Aboyne B B Nursery / Non- Retain Library & Linked SFL Tough Alford B B GP / Servery Linked Retain

Tullynessle Alford B B Nursery / Non- Retain Staffroom Linked

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