Baldragon Summer Concert Showcases Talented Pupils and Fine Quality of Instrumental Tuition

Last night I attended the Summer Concert at Baldragon Academy. This is always an entertaining evening, and last night was no exception.

A range of groups made music from a wide variety of genres; from the String Ensemble playing a movement from Dvořák's New World Symphony to the Soul Band's rendition of Jess Glynne's 'Hold My Hand'.  

Interspersed with the bands and groups, senior pupils played their Higher and Advanced Higher Music solo performance pieces.

The stand out solo performance for me was TJ Douglas Welsh's moving rendition of the song 'Defying Gravity' from the musical Wicked. TJ will be performing this later in the summer with Dundee Schools' Music Theatre.

It was also good to hear younger pupils performing including pupils from Baldragon's cluster Primary Schools. I was very impressed with the Trombone Solo from S1 pupil Natasha Borsch and the enthusiasm and pounding rhythms from the P7 Samba Percussion Group from Sidlaw View Primary School. 

Once again this concert demonstrated the strength of the Music Department at Baldragon Academy and the fine support from the peripatetic instrumental tutors and city wide bands and orchestras. They are clearly very effective at nurturing musicality amongst the pupils at Baldragon and its cluster primary schools.

Education Meetings Wednesday 20 April 2016

Earlier today I had a series of three meetings about education in Dundee. 

The day began with a briefing I had requested about the financing of the building of the replacement Baldragon Academy currently under construction. The funding is referred to as DBFM which stands for Design, Build, Finance and Maintain. This is on the agenda of the Policy and Resources Committee next Monday evening.

The second meeting was with Mrs MacGregor the Head Teacher at Forthill Primary School. Now in her second term at the helm, Mrs MacGregor was formerly Head Teacher at Victoria Park Primary School, Blackness Road. We had a wide ranging discussion including Curriculum for Excellence, Read Write Inc phonics based literacy programme, numeracy developments and computer coding. I also had a conducted tour of the school. While I was there one of the year groups were enjoying an African Drumming workshop. 

The third meeting was back in Dundee House to meet Michael Wood, Executive Director of Children and Families' Service for a briefing about his reports coming up at the first meeting of the integrated Children and Families' Service Committee on Monday next. This new committee replaces the former Education and Social Work Committees. 

This is an important monthly meeting which helps to inform my role as Labour Education Spokesperson in the city. More specifically it will help inform how I, and my colleagues in the Labour group, might respond to the important issues that will be raised for decision at both the Children and Families' Service and Policy and Resources Committees next Monday evening.

All three meetings help to keep me informed about the policy and practice issues for our schools in the city in general and of course more specifically in The Ferry. There is a lot going on and it's important to keep abreast of it.

Blocks to the Rebuilding of Baldragon Academy Should be Resolved

A year after the Council gave planning permission for the new Baldragon Academy, the contract for the construction is still not signed and the planned entry date in the Summer Term 2017 is presumably no longer feasible.

This is a serious blow to the integrated operation of the planned Baldragon Campus, incorporating the replacement Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery that are already under construction on the next door site. Legal details that are delaying the signing of the contract for the building of the new Baldragon should be resolved. 

Unfortunately the latest announcement from John Swinney MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, suggests that no early resolution is in sight for an issue that is holding up numerous public procurement contracts.

With a public announcement today of work starting soon on the dualling of the A9, I hope our school rebuilding programe in Dundee is not being pushed back in the queue to make way for capital projects elsewhere.

I have asked that this item is discussed at the next Education Committee.

Baldragon Academy Pupils and Staff Entertain With Hairspray - The Musical

Click on image to enlarge

Last night I enjoyed a very entertaining and accomplished performance of Hairpsray the musical by the pupils and staff of Baldragon Academy.

Set in Baltimore in the early 1960s, the singing and dancing had me tapping my feet to the musical score, which was reminiscent of Motown rhythm and blues. 

The pupils, who were joined on stage by several of their teachers, sang and danced their hearts out.  

Produced and directed by staff from the outstanding Music Department, Baldragon Academy has staged another school show of which it should be proud.

This performance of "Hairspray is as sweet as a show can be without promoting tooth decay."

Catch this show if you can with two more performances on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 June 2014. Tickets @ £7 from the school.
telephone: 01382 436170 email: baldragon@dundeecity.gov.uk

Baldragon Academy Carol Singers Fundraise at the Bingo

Customers arriving at the Mecca Bingo in Douglasfield on Saturday night were greeted at the door by a group of carol singers from Baldragon Academy. I was pleased to join staff and pupils from the school for their Christmas fundraising in aid of the Brown Street Kennels in Dundee. The carollers also brought along their dogs who were  all on their best behaviour.

The Bingo players arriving for their party night provided appreciative feedback and were very generous with their donations. Thanks are also due to Mecca staff for their help.

Consulatation Reports Published on Proposed New Schools in Coldside, Menzieshill and Strathmartine

The Education Department has recently been consulting on three proposals in line with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

The proposals were:

• to relocate Rosebank Primary School, Our Lady’s Primary School and Frances Wright Pre-School Centre to a new shared campus site with shared community facilities in the Coldside area;
• to discontinue Hillside and Gowriehill Primary Schools and build a new 3 stream primary school incorporating a provision to replace Menzieshill Nursery School; and
• to build a community campus on the site of the existing Baldragon Academy on a phased basis to include Baldragon Academy, Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School.

As part of the process, the authority must publish a report after the end of the consultation period which must contain:

• an explanation of how the proposal has been reviewed;
• the full text of the Education Scotland (HMIe) report which considers the educational aspects of the proposal;
• a summary of the points raised during the proposal (written and oral) and the authority’s response to them;
• a statement explaining how the authority has reviewed the proposal in the light of representations and the Education Scotland (HMIe) report.

The Consultation Reports are available to download below:

• Coldside Area Consultation Report (124KB MS Word doc)
• Menzieshill Area Consultation Report (145KB MS Word doc)
• Strathmartine Area Consultation Report (99KB MS Word doc)

They will be available on the council’s website from Monday 22 April for a period of four weeks. Paper copies of the report will be available to in the reception area of each establishment involved in the consultation process. In addition, a copy will be available at Customer Services Reception, Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee.

At the end of the consultation period, a final decision will be taken on each proposal and a report taken to the Education Committee and Policy and Resources Committee on Monday 24 June 2013.

Baldragon Academy Christmas Concert

Click on image to enlarge

On Thursday I attended the Baldragon Academy Christmas Concert. This was an entertaining showcase for the outstanding quality and range of musical talent in the school.

The fifteen items included a wide variety of musical styles. Amongst the singing, I particularly enjoyed the Vocal Ensemble's rendition of the carol, 'By Candlelight'; the Soul Band performing 'All I want for Christmas is You' and Erin Clancy solo singing of a classical Italian aria, 'Se tu m'ami'. The string playing was also varied and impressive from a Ukelele band to a String Ensemble. There were also creditable performances from the School Orchestra, the Percussion Ensemble, a Percussion soloist, a piano duet and a solo Saxophonist.

The Music Department in Baldragon Academy and the visiting instrumental teachers are to be congratulated for nurturing and coaching so many young musicians.

Dundee Labour's Call for Commitment to Rebuild Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School is Answered

I welcome the announcement by the City Council that it is now committed to funding Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School as part of the proposed Strathmartine Campus along with Baldragon Academy. 

On 2 October, Strathmartine Councillor Kevin Keenan joined me in calling for such a commitment. To ensure that this issue was aired, I placed this item on the Agenda of the next Education Committee later this month. I am pleased to have received a positive response from David Dorward, the Council's Chief Executive late on Tuesday afternoon.

I note that the current intention is to rebuild Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School after the rebuilding of Baldragon Academy. This would be disappointing as the new Baldragon is to be rebuilt on the north side of its current campus close to Harestane Road. This should allow the rebuilding of Baldragon to take place with minimal disruption to the education of the current pupils. If the rebuilding of Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School takes place later on as the Education Convener claims, there will be a building site next door to the new Baldragon Academy for a couple of years. 

These are of course questions Councillor Keenan and I will pursue at the Education Committee and also at the Policy and Resources Committee when the Capital Plan is revised to find room for the the Council's share of funding these three new schools.

Dundee City Council General Services Capital Plan 2012-16

Note there is no provision in the exiting approved capital plan for any of the Council's costs for rebuilding Baldragon Academy, Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School.

Calling for a Commitment from the Council to Rebuild Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School

Last week I was delighted to hear about the success of the Council's bid to the Scottish Future's Trust (SFT) for funding towards the cost of rebuilding Baldragon Academy. In about five years time pupils and teachers should be moving into their new Baldragon subject to a number of important formalities such as local consultations and gaining planning permission.

The Council's Education Committee approved a bid at their meeting on 25 June 2012 for 'a new build programme and shared campus in the Strathmartine area to include:

• a new Baldragon Academy and

• a new Sidlaw View Primary School, integrated with Jessie Porter Nursery School.'

Unfortunately, only part of the Council's bid was approved; that part for Baldragon Academy.

So while those folk associated with Baldragon Academy will have been feeling upbeat on hearing their positive news, it must have been very disappointing for those associated with Jessie Porter Nursery School and Sidlaw View Primary School to hear that their schools had lost out.

But I don't think we can just leave it there. 

I have written to the Education Convener, Stewart Hunter and Education Director, Michael Wood, to ask that they report back to the Education Committee at our next meeting in October. I think we are under an obligation to work out how we will fund that part of the Strathmartine Campus which has not been supported by the Scottish Government. 

Welcome for Funding Commitment for Rebuilding Baldragon Academy

I welcome the announcement made yesterday, by the Scottish Government, that the rebuilding of Baldragon Academy has been approved as part of the Schools for the Future programme. I know this will be welcomed by the Baldragon staff, pupils and  parents.

The current Baldragon Academy buildings are over 50 years old and pupils in the North West of the city deserve a Secondary School that is fit for the 21st Century. The original proposal by the Council included the replacement of Sidlaw View Primary School on the same campus and I hope that is part of what has been approved as well.

This really is a school for the future announcement as the government's letter makes it clear that Baldragon will not be among those schools with an accelerated start over the next 18 months. That might have been possible as the rebuilding of the school will be on another part of the Baldragon site. Unlike Harris Academy, there will be no need to decant pupils during the building of the replacement Baldragon Academy.

Ward Councillor Kevin Keenan said:

"As a local Councillor, I am very pleased that a new build Baldragon Academy received the approval of the Education Minister yesterday as part of the Government's Schools for The Future programme.

"I am, however, a little disappointed this Project is not within the first phase of funding, which would have seen a construction start within 12 to 18 months - delivering much needed jobs for Dundee's construction workers.

"It remains great news for the pupils, staff and parents along with the wider community as this new build will deliver a much improved learning environment and is therefore very welcome."

Drainage Improvements Completed on Coastal Pathway

New drainage channel to catch water
seeping from the wall.

Yesterday afternoon, I walked along the coastal pathway from Douglas Terrace to the Stannergate. 

Just beyond the Grassy Beach Centre, on the raised section of the pathway, the building work to create better underfoot conditions has been completed.

A new drainage channel has been installed which catches the water seeping from the wall above and then takes this to a new drain.

Further down the slope on the seaward side of the path, a additional drain has also been installed so that any surface rain water does not collect and form a pool.

New drain to disperse surface water.

I trust this satisfactorily reduces the likelihood of poor underfoot conditions at this spot, which some of my constituents had complained about at the end of July.

I think this represents a comprehensive and very satisfactory response from the Environment Department, whom I first approached about this.

Baldragon Academy Pupils Feature in CBBC Newsround Special Tonight

Pupils from Baldragon Academy feature in a CBBC Newsround Special which was broadcast at 5pm tonight. 

This programme, called Starting secondary school: Up and Away is about the transitions from Primary to Secondary School. It was timed to coincide with children in England starting back to school. 

The programme begins with testimony from a series of pupils with additional support needs as they anticipate and then reflect back on their first few days at Secondary School.

The pupils from Baldragon are featured in a short sequence at the beginning and in the last few minutes of the programme making it clear that all children have concerns prior to moving up to Secondary School.

The whole programme delivers the positive message that there's no need to be scared about the the big move up to Secondary school.

"It was really good to see and hear from pupils at Baldragon Academy talking confidently about their experience of moving up to their Secondary School. They reflect that their prior worries about the big move were unnecessary. Clearly these pupils have settled into life at their new school in just a few weeks. I congratulate Baldragon pupils and teachers for managing the transition so well."

You can catch up with the programme for the next week on BBC iPlayer.

Cautious Welcome for Proposals for New Schools and Community Facilities

Model of one of the 6 PPP funded Primary
Schools already built in the city

Background
Three of the reports appearing on the agenda of the Education Committee on Monday 25 June are about proposals for future school building projects. This includes initiating formal consultations on a new primary school, nursery and linked community facilities in both the Coldside and Menzieshill areas. As both areas involve potential school mergers, a formal consultation process is the next step. Appearing on the same agenda is a report advising the Committee of a bid for possible government funding towards a replacement Baldragon Academy, Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery on the Baldragon Academy site.


Labour's Education Spokesperson, Councillor Laurie Bidwell said:
Its positive news for parents, carers, pupils and teachers in Menzieshill and Coldside. They will all be pleased that the proposals for a new primary school in each of these areas with linked nursery school and possible community facilities is moving towards the formal public consultation stage. In both Menzieshill and Coldside parents, carers and teachers will need to be consulted on the potential merger of their local primary schools and the best site for the merged schools. For service users of all ages who use community centres and projects in both areas there are issues about possible co-location of community facilities with schools to resolve. Certainly, the demolition of multi-storey flats has made available centrally located sites in both these areas of the city for the potential new schools and community facilities. The consultations will allow all those with an interest to be involved in selecting the best option available including the most suitable site and the best mix of schools, nursery and community facilities.


Starthmartine Councillor Kevin Keenan said:I am encouraged to learn that there is now recognition that three of the schools in the Strathmartine ward need replacement - these schools being Baldragon Academy, Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery. New schools are something that I believe would have the full support and backing of teachers, pupils, staff, parents and the wider community. I hope the Council will be successful with its bid to the Scottish Futures Trust. If the Council's need any additional indicator of community support for these new schools,  I would be the first to put my name to any petition.

Labour's Education Spokesperson, Councillor Laurie Bidwell also said:
While the proposals for a bid for additional funding for new schools is positive, I do have some concerns. 
Just four months ago in February 2012 when the new 2012-17 capital plan was brought forward, Councillor Keenan and I queried why there were no new proposals for comprehensively refurbishing or replacing any of our secondary schools, especially Baldragon Academy whose buildings are over 50 years old. It's good that the Council has changed its mind but this decision calls into question the thoroughness of their analysis in the school estate review. 
A bid for funding is no guarantee of government support. Dundee lost out in the second round of new schools to be built with funding from the Scottish Futures Trust so let's hope it will be third time lucky. Unfortunately, any replacement schools in the Strathmartine ward are probably a long way off. Funding for Harris Academy comes from the same source and its funding was announced in September 2009 and their pupils and teachers are not due to move into their new school until 2016.


Starthmartine Councillor Kevin Keenan also said:
The Council's contribution to funding the possible new schools in the Strathmartine area is likely to be £10 - £15M. There is no provision for this in the new capital plan 2012-17. I hope that the Council will not be faced with deciding which of its other new schools to delay in order to progress these new schools in my ward.
I hope that all the Scottish Futures Trust's teething problems and red tape that delayed the rebuilding of Harris Academy are sorted out, allowing the next phase of their developments to hit the ground quickly, delivering new schools for our children and helping the local construction industry.

Dundee Welcomes the Olympic Torch Tonight - Tuesday 12 May 2012

At 18:14 tonight the Olympic Torch will begin its journey through the streets of Dundee from Commercial Street to Baxter Park via City Square. 
Leaving from Commercial Street at 18:14, it will call in at City Square around 4 minutes later. The relay and torchbearers will then move along Murraygate and Cowgate, up Princes Street onto Arbroath Road, then onto Baxter Park for 18:47. 


There will be nine nine torch bearers tonight ranging in age from 95 to 12 years old. Click on this link for further details of each of the torch bearers.


Amongst the three young people from our city who will be carrying the torch tonight, the nomination story of Kian Steel, one of our pupils from Kingspark School captured my attention:
Kian Steel Aged 12 Nomination story
"Kian has moved areas and schools a number of times in previous years but since coming to Kingspark he has settled in well and has shown good skills in a variety of sports. He is good working with the other pupils in his class with less ability than him. It is hoped in the future he will be an asset to the school in swimming and athletics events."
The other two young torch bearers from our city are
Michael Robb aged 18 from Baldragon Academy and
Shanon Davis aged 15 an Olympic figure skater.


I think they will all be assets to our city and their schools when they take their turn to carry the Olympic Torch proudly through our city streets. I hope they enjoy their 'moment to shine'.

Carol Singing Sunday

Today I have enjoyed singing familiar Christmas Carols in two contrasting venues. 

At 3pm I attended the service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Brought Ferry. It was good to have some choristers to lead the singing and embroider the melody with a descant or two.

At 6pm I joined staff and pupils from Baldragon Academy who were singing carols unaccompanied in the entrance hall of Mecca Bingo at Douglasfield. Under the leadership of Alice Rhynd, Principal Teacher of Modern Languages, we were carolling the Bingo players as they arrived hoping to attract donations in support of the Brown Street Kennels. The patrons were very generous and appreciative of our efforts.

Baldragon Academy Summer Concert

Last night I attended a most enjoyable Summer Concert at Baldragon Academy. The programme featured a breadth of performers and variety of musical genres. The excellence of each performance was a testament to the musicality of the pupils and the quality of the Music Department in the school under the leadership of Fiona Anderson as well as the impressive range of visiting music teachers.


Each performance was rewarded by enthusiastic applause from an appreciative audience. The photograph above shows piper and school orchestra performing Amazing Grace. 


Headteacher, Dr John Cavanagh, delivered the vote of thanks and wished pupils, parents and carers and staff an enjoyable summer break.

Barnardos Fundraiser at The Friary

Yesterday evening I attended a most enjoyable fundraising event at The Friary in aid of Barnardos Scotland. The evening was organised by teachers and pupils at Baldragon Academy who raised over £2000 for the charity. It was good to see school staff, pupils and their families turn out to support the charity. Baldragon pupils and former pupils provided a good part of the entertainment. which included sets from the Baldragon Soul Band and the Baldragon Big Band.

Baldragon Academy Christmas Concert

Earlier this evening I enjoyed attending the annual Christmas Concert at Baldragon Academy in Dundee. The programme included many fine performances from pupils and staff. I was particularly impressed with the proportion of boys singing and playing instuments in a variety of combinations. I especially enjoyed the percussion ensemble whose 'Hey ya!' was played on varying lengths of plastic tubes. The music department is to be congratulated for the wealth of musical talents it has fostered and coached to an entertaining standard. Very well done Baldragon!

Carol Singing at Douglasfield Mecca

This afternoon, I enjoyed singing with staff and pupils from Baldragon Academy who were caroling in the vestibule of Mecca bingo in Douglasfield. We were also very appropriately accompanied by four well behaved dogs as the group were raising funds for the Brown Street dog shelter. Bingo players arriving enjoyed the singing and gave generously. The School hope to raise more than last year's total of £70.

Heating Replacement at Baldragon Academy

At the Education Committee tonight the Committee approved a tender to spend £41,263 on replacement storage heaters at Baldragon Academy.

Councillor Laurie Bidwell said:
"I sought to defer this decision to give more time for a fuller options appraisal. I did this because I do not think that replacing faulty storage heaters in the school with new storage heaters is the answer. The Council should take decisions that represent best value. As part of considering what is best value, we need to consider the running costs of a heating system over time and its environmental impact as well as the initial cost of installation. In this case, I do not think this tender represents best value in its wider sense. Firstly, I question whether doing half the job, by replacing 40 faulty heaters now is good value for money. It is usually cheaper to do a job like this in its entirety rather than in a series of stages that prolongs the completion of the work and usually costs more in the end. Secondly, I think a decision to stick to storage heaters will saddle the Education Department and School with a heating system which will be more expensive to use and less adjustable and comfortable than a pumped hot water system with radiators complete with individual thermostatic valves. I do not think storage heaters will be such a cheap option when considered over the lifetime of the system. Thirdly, when the Director of Education was questioned about the environmental impact of his proposal or the potential cost savings no costs or figures were available. He could, I think, only speculate that a gas central heating system would cost more than £1 million but had no technical member of staff present to offer any real detail.

By introducing the spectra of pupils and staff potentially left in the cold, the Education Convener, persuaded enough councillors to support her proposal. Had there been any real prospect of a heating crisis as Baldragon Academy, no one, least of all me, would have been critical of a smaller number of heaters not working being replaced immediately while more time was given to preparing and justifying to the Education Committee the best value option.

I am pleased, in the light of the debate that I instigated, that Councillor Borthwick persuaded the Convener to now bring forward a report on long-term heating solutions for the school."