Extension and Refurbishment of Barnhill Primary School - Education Committee 28 January

Extracts from my contribution to the debate at the Education Committee last night - Monday 28 March

"I have asked for this item to be brought to the Education Committee because, 'as it says on the tin', I want you to agree tonight to the preparation of a feasibility study for the extension and refurbishment of Barnhill Primary School with a report back to Committee by November 2011.

With confirmed demand for school places a growing issue in the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School, it makes sense for the council to revive its plans to refurbish and extend the school in a manner similar to the recent extension and refurbishment of Forthill Primary School. This could not only expand the capacity of the school to cope with an growing demand for places for children who live in the catchment area but also upgrade facilities in the school that are already stretched.

The catchment area of Barnhill Primary School includes the recently completed, Balmossie Brae development north of the Arbroath Road and Panmurefield up to the seven arches viaduct and old Dundee – Monikie, Forfar railway embankment. The catchment area map shows that there is a large portion of undeveloped north of the Arbroath Road. This is currently with an agricultural use but all lying within an area designated for future development, designated at the instance of this council. So we need to provide the services necessary to cope with demands for Nursery, Primary and then Secondary Education. In fact we have already extracted a considerable income stream from from section 75 agreements we entered into with developers in order to help fund primary schools. This is right and proper since Primary Education is valued as a locally accessed service which is in reasonable distance for children and their parents and carers to access.

Apart from the growing volume of housing in the catchment area, there are two other reasons why I believe that demand for places is growing.

• Firstly the unique option of parents in Barnhill, sending their children to Grange Primary School in Angus with a guaranteed option of then progressing to Grove Academy has come to an end. Parents living at an address inside the Dundee boundary that might previously have considered this option, would be wary of ending up with their children leaving Grange Primary School and having neither a guaranteed place at Grove Academy in Dundee nor a guaranteed place at Monifieth High School in Angus.
• Secondly, as President Clinton, famously said, ”It's the economy stupid”. When I was convener figures were produced by the Directorate with a High School Of Dundee discount. That is that is was expected that some children that might otherwise have entered our schools would go private. But given the economic uncertainties, I think that this is now much less likely. I am also politically of the view that public services, shouldn't be second rate nor a last resort if you can't afford to go private.

What about the current accommodation in Barnhill Primary School? Well the nursery classes are accommodated in temporary huts which is unusual in Dundee Schools. And the current Dining Hall is stretched by current numbers. Of course much has changed since the school was built forty years ago. Now what I am asking for was contemplated by the Council in the past. In fact Barnhill was in the original PPP school building programme scheme but dropped out at some point like other schools such as Park Place Primary School and Kingspark School. Interestingly, we have already recognised their shortcomings and their replacement schools are under development or are already built by the council. In fact the council applied for and received outline planning consent for such a development (as I am advocating) in Spring 2002. In this planning application permission, in outline, was sought for:

'an extension to school with accommodation for educational and community use and replacement of temporary nursery unit at Barnhill Primary School, Falkland Crescent, Broughty Ferry, Dundee. The proposals for this school and nursery are to accommodate the forecast expansion of population in the east end of the city.'
Unfortunately this outline planning permission lapsed.

But, £5 million continues to allocated for Barnhill Primary School in the council's Capital Plans including the current plan for 20011/12. It just needs to be shifted out of limbo in the 'future years' column of the plan and given a definite timescale. I think parents living in or moving into the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School will expect the Council to plan ahead and revive these plans as a matter of urgency. I am therefore asking that a feasibility study is prepared and then brought back to the Education Committee later this year. I am also recommending to the committee that this is not just a technical appraisal but also involves the Head Teacher and the Chair of the Parent Council. Of course this will not provide an immediate solution to the capacity concerns that arose earlier this year but might reassure families living in or contemplating moving into the Barnhill Primary School catchment area that the council will have a longer term rather than makeshift solution to primary school capacity at Barnhill Primary School. Progressing my proposal would also help to reduce fears that public services in Broughty Ferry will not be able to cope with the planned growth in population principally in the north eastern part of The Ferry.
I hope that what I am asking for is uncontroversial and will be supported by all sides. We all want the city to prosper and that requires new developments including housing and the public and private services to support these.

My proposal recognizes that now is the time to decide to prepare and bring forward a feasibility study for the extension and refurbishment of Barnhill Primary School."