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.

First Day at Magnificent new Ballumbie Primary School

I feel privileged to have to have joined parents carers, teachers and of course the pupils of Ballumbie Primary School on Wednesday morning to join the procession from their two former school sites to their brand new school building.

During my time as Education Convener (May 2007-April 2009), Labour brought forward plans for a Council funded programme of school building which comprised another six new schools. This included a replacement Primary School in Whitfield. It was therefore great to see what had started with a proposal described in a committee paper progress to this magnificent new school building on the new Lothian Crescent spine road.

I had three outstanding impressions from my morning visit, apart from the quality of the new facilities for the pupils and the community.
Firstly the very impressive level of support from parents and carers who had turned out to join their children in the processions from the former Newfields and Whitfield Primary School sites to the new school. This support was warmly acknowledged by the Head Teacher, Kim Flynn, in her formal welcome in the new school hall. 

Secondly, the careful thought and time that had gone into the process of merging the two schools and bringing them together on one site with the Community Nursery. Successful transitions like this don't just happen. 

Thirdly, a determination as a Councillor to continue our efforts to renew our school buildings in Dundee so that all our pupils can be in classrooms fit for the 21st century.

Whitfield Primary Schools Looks Back and Forward

On Thursday I attended a nostalgic open afternoon at Whitfield Primary School.
The school was celebrating its life and times over the 44 years since it had opened. It was taking a collective trip down memory lane before it relocates after Easter to the new replacement school building on Lothian Crescent. The replacement school, a merger between Whitfield and Newfields Primary Schools, will also house the Whitfield community early-years centre. The new school will be known as Balumbie Primary School.
But Thursday afternoon was all about reminiscing with former pupils and teachers of Whitfield Primary School returning to peer at school photos, press cuttings and memorabilia. 
This was certainly an event when I appreciated that the page was being turned on a significant chapter in the life of Whitfield.