Ballumbie Primary School is Blooming Marvellous

I attended the official opening of Ballumbie Primary School on Thursday morning. This event provided a wonderful demonstration of the creativity and learning of the pupils in their new school. Whether they were performing in unison when the choir sang or the percussion group drummed, or solo singling, playing violin, highland dancing or reciting poetry; their performances were confident and warmly appreciated by the invited audience.

My highlight of the morning was the Choir's opening number, 'Don't Stop Us Now'.


"Don't stop us now We're having such a good time
We're having a ball don't stop us now
If you wanna have a good time just give us a call
Don't stop us now ('Cause we're having a good time)
Don't stop us now (Yes we're having a good time)
We don't want to stop at all" 
(after Freddie Mercury)

The optimistic message of the Choir's adaptation of Queen's hit song summed up the school's and children's aspirations. As the children sang, I thought it also presented Parents and Carers, Councillors and Education Managers with a challenge to provide the conditions that will enable our children to flourish and not to rein in their aspirations. Now we have made the long term investment in this new school, it is important that the year to year money for teachers and other staff is maintained so that the Primary pupils at Ballumbie Primary School can make the most of the learning possibilities that this new school building provides.

North East Labour Councillor Brian Gordon, said:
I am proud to have been one of Councillors in Dundee who initiated the process that led to the merger of Newfields and Whitfield Primary Schools and the Whitfield Community Nursery and its replacement with this fine new school, community nursery and community wing. This new school building is a step forward for the education of our children and also a bold statement of commitment to the continuing regeneration of Whitfield.