GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL EDUCATION SERVICES THIS IS A FORMAL CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT IN RELATION TO A NEW CAMPUS ON THE ST BRENDAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL SITE Proposal: (i) To close Garscadden Primary School and Yoker Primary School (including Thirlstane Day Nursery) and build a new non denominational Primary School as part of the campus on the St Brendan’s Primary School site. (ii) To close Kelso Nursery School and build a new, extended day, 52 weeks a year, Early Years establishment as part of the campus on the St Brendan’s Primary School site. The new campus would be new-build; encompassing a new St Brendan’s Primary School, a new non-denominational primary school and a new early years establishment. The campus would also include a day/evening community facility, managed by Glasgow Life, which would incorporate a dance studio, fitness suite, and a separate changing and reception facilities. There would also be evening and weekend access to the multi-purpose games hall and exterior all-weather pitch. Schools Ward(s) Strategic Learning Communities Planning Area Garscadden Primary Yoker Primary 13 North West Knightswood St Brendan’s Primary Kelso Nursery School St Thomas Aquinas Thirlstane Day Nursery REPORT BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION This document has been issued by Glasgow City Council for consultation in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The Ordnance Survey map data included within this document is provided by Glasgow City Council under licence from Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function in relation to this public consultation. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey Copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping/data for their own use. 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 Garscadden Primary School was opened in 1931; it is part of the Knightswood Learning Community. It is a single and double storey brick construction with a mixture of pitched slated roofs and flat-felt roofs, roughcast external walls, timber windows and curtain walling. The current condition of the school is assessed as being D condition and the current suitability rating, as provided by the school, is D (see appendix A for information on condition and suitability ratings). 1.2 Yoker Primary School was opened in 1973; it is part of the Knightswood Learning Community. It is single storey with flat-felt roofing, roughcast external walls, timber windows and fascia. When surveyed in 2008/09 the building was assessed as being in C condition and the current suitability rating, as provided by the school, is C. Thirlstane Day Nursery is located within Yoker Primary School. It is noted as being in C Condition; it is also part of the Knightswood Learning Community. There are currently no nationally established suitability criteria for Early Years establishments. 1.3 St Brendan's Primary School was opened in 1962; it is part of the St Thomas Aquinas Learning Community. It is a two storey building with a mixture of brick and roughcast external walls, timber windows and fascias. When surveyed in 2008/09 the building was assessed as being in B condition. However, it is now estimated as being closer to C condition now. The current suitability rating, as provided by the school, is B. Kelso Nursery School is located within St Brendan's Primary School. It is evaluated as being in C Condition; it is also part of the St Thomas Aquinas Learning Community. There are currently no nationally established suitability criteria for Early Years establishments. 1.4 The current rolls/capacities and predicted future rolls/capacities are detailed in appendix C; see also 3.2 2. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The proposal is to ‘merge’ Garscadden primary School with Yoker Primary School in a new-build non denominational school on a campus (on the current St Brendan’s site) along with a new-build denominational St Brendan’s Primary School. It is also proposed that there would be an extended day, 52 weeks a year, Early Years provision within the campus. 2.2 If the proposal is approved the current Garscadden and Yoker schools (including Thirlstane early years provision) and Kelso Nursery School would be closed. A new-build St Brendan’s Primary, a new-build non denominational primary, and new-build early years facility would be constructed (initial working title is the New-Build3 Campus) adjacent to the current St Brendan’s Primary School. Upon completion of the new campus buildings the current St Brendan’s building would be demolished. 2.3 If the proposal is approved the new-build non denominational primary school would be part of the Knightswood Learning Community. The new- build St Brendan’s primary school and the new-build early years centre would be part of the St Thomas Aquinas Learning Community. 2.4 The proposal also includes providing a day/evening community facility, managed by Glasgow Life, which would include a dance studio, fitness suite, and separate changing and reception facilities. There would also be evening and weekend access to the multi-purpose games hall and exterior all-weather pitch. 3. ROLL PROJECTION METHODOLOGY 3.1 Planning for the demand for future school places is reviewed annually. Future school rolls are predicted taking into account the following factors: • Birth rates in Glasgow. • Housing needs assessment, contained in strategic and local plans. • Migration of children in and out of Glasgow. • The progression of children through each stage (P1 to S6). • The impact of placing requests (parental choice). 3.2 Projected rolls and capacity for St Brendan’s School and the new merged Garscadden/Yoker School are attached (Appendix C). Should the proposal go ahead then the children who live within the respective catchment areas for the schools (see appendix B) would be given priority, and only when all children resident within the catchment areas had been allocated a place would placing requests be granted using the criteria as set out in the council’s guidance on placing requests. Children currently attending any of the schools via a placing request would be guaranteed a place in the appropriate new-build school when it opened. 4. EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSAL 4.1 The Children 4.1.1 Children attending any of the primary schools (St Brendan’s, Garscadden, and Yoker) would benefit from continuing their secondary school education within the same learning community as their current primary school. In this way, teachers within the schools would be able to continue to plan with teachers from their associated secondary school (Knightswood or St Thomas Aquinas) to ensure that there was continuity in children’s learning from primary through to secondary school. Transition from early years to primary would be supported through regular staff meetings and the extended day, 52 week a year, facility would support parents/carers in the community. 4.1.2 St Brendan’s, Garscadden, Yoker, Kelso, and Thirlstane Day Nursery provide very good learning and care for children. However, their buildings are no longer suitable in the medium to long term in relation to supporting Curriculum for Excellence and continuous improvement. It would benefit the children to attend new schools. Headteachers of new schools in Glasgow report that new school buildings support children's learning. They indicate that children are more motivated to learn, are more engaged in their learning, and apply themselves with greater purpose. Headteachers also indicate that a great benefit to children in new schools is the positive effect on behavior, which allows better learning. These benefits would be anticipated for children from St Brendan’s, Garscadden, Yoker, Kelso, and Thirlstane Day Nursery. 4.1.3 The proposals would provide the platform to improve the depth, breadth, coherence, relevance, challenge, and enjoyment provided by the curriculum. New school buildings allow for greater depth in the curriculum. Children would benefit from being able to investigate in an environment that drives new thinking and change. Children would benefit from the breadth of the curriculum being extended and allowing a full coverage of all primary school subjects including those, such as science, art and drama that may be constrained by older buildings. Within the new environment there would be benefits to children making their learning coherent, and giving them opportunities to join up the strands of learning they experience. 4.1.4 The modern facilities would provide enhanced opportunities for greater personalisation and choice in learning. For example; the use of information and communications technology allows for individual progression. Headteachers of new schools again report that in new school buildings children realise the relevance of their learning and better apply themselves because of this. The headteachers further indicate that children are challenged more and that this challenge leads to better learning and to increased achievement. The children from St Brendan’s, Garscadden, Yoker, Kelso, and Thirlstane Day Nursery would benefit from a higher level of enjoyment and excitement in the curriculum they experience in a new school/campus environment. 4.1.5 The modern, purpose-built campus would also underline the value that the council places on the importance of the ethos and condition of the learning environment. The proposals would ensure improved equality of opportunity for all within an inclusive and accessible educational environment. The possibility of inclusive education would bring great benefits to the children involved. These are values included in the council's plans for the future of Glasgow. 4.1.6 The children would benefit from Glasgow City Council being able to manage the campus efficiently and deliver best value for the foreseeable future. 4.2 The Campus Facilities 4.2.1 The high quality campus provision would facilitate children and staff from St Brendan’s, Garscadden, Yoker, Kelso, and Thirlstane Day Nursery participating in a wider range of activities with other schools, both on-site, and across their respective Learning Communities.