Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Monday 27 September 2004 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Robertson, Snoddy, Tucker and White, Father T Boyle, Rev W Armstrong and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives, Mr A Sweeney, Parent Representative and Mr T Tracey, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Education Services, Director of Corporate Services, Mr G Douglas and Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Service (Support for Learning), Head of Service (Pre-5 & Children's Services), Head of Service (SEN and IT), Head of Property Services and Property Services Manager.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

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Provision of Secondary Education in Inverclyde

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There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing background information relating to the provision of secondary school accommodation in Inverclyde, (2) setting out the vision for the future provision of secondary education in Inverclyde and (3) seeking approval for the issue of consultative documents relative to (a) the building of a new school to replace Gourock High School and Greenock Academy, (b) the building of a new school to replace Notre Dame High School and St Columba’s High School, and (c) the siting and primary associations of the new school to be built to replace Greenock High School and Wellington Academy.

(A) Provision of Non-denominational Secondary Education across Gourock High School and Greenock Academy

Decided:  that it be recommended to the Policy and Strategy Committee:

(1)      that the following proposals be issued for consultation and made available to all interested parties:-

(a)      that a new non-denominational secondary school with a capacity of 900 be built on the site of the existing St Columba’s High School to replace Gourock High School and Greenock Academy, for completion around August 2010;

(b)      that Gourock High School’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 3 from December 2006 and its intake be capped at 100 at December 2006;

(c)      that Greenock Academy’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 4 from December 2006 and its intake be capped at 80 at December 2006;

(d)      that Gourock High School formally close in June 2010 and the pupils transfer to the new school in August 2010 or on completion of the new school;

(e)      that Greenock Academy formally close in June 2010 and pupils transfer to the new school in August 2010 or on completion of the new school;

(f)       that the new school’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 5 from December 2009;

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(g)      that the pupils attending Moorfoot Primary School, Gourock Primary School and Ardgowan Primary School be associated with the new school from December 2009;

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(2)      that all interested parties, including school boards, be asked to make written submissions to the Director of Education Services at 105 Dalrymple Street, Greenock PA15 1HU by no later than 12 November 2004;

(3)      that the Director of Education Services prepare a report on the results of the consultative process for consideration at a future meeting of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee.

(B) Provision of Denominational Secondary Education across Inverclyde

Decided:  that it be recommended to the Policy and Strategy Committee:

(1) that the following proposals be issued for consultation and made available to all interested parties:-

Option 1

(a)      that a new denominational secondary school of 1400 capacity be built on the site of the existing Notre Dame High School to replace St Columba’s High School and Notre Dame High School, for completion around August 2010;

(b)      that Notre Dame High School formally close in June 2010 and the pupils transfer to the new school in August 2010 or on completion of the new school;

(c)      that St Columba's High School formally close in June 2010 and the pupils transfer to the new school in August 2010 or on completion of the new school;

(d)      that the new school’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 4 from December 2009;

(e)      that the existing arrangements for St Stephen’s High School in terms of associated primaries i.e. St John’s Primary School, St Francis Primary School, St Michael’s Primary School and the former St Mungo’s Primary School pupils now attending St Kenneth’s Primary School and St Laurence’s Primary School be associated with St Stephen’s High School;

(f)       that the existing arrangements for Notre Dame High School and St Columba’s High School in terms of associated primaries continue for the new denominational school i.e. St Kenneth’s Primary School, St Laurence’s Primary School, St Patrick's Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, St Gabriel’s Primary School, St Ninian’s Primary School and St Joseph's Primary School be associated with the new denominational school;

(g)      that St Stephen’s High School be refurbished by 2013;

Option 2

(a)      that a new denominational secondary school of 1150 capacity be built on the site of the existing Notre Dame High School to replace St Columba’s High School and Notre Dame High School, for completion around August 2010;

(b)      that Notre Dame High School formally close in June 2010 and the pupils transfer to the new school in August 2010 or on completion of the new school;

(c)      that St Columba’s High School formally close in June 2010 and the pupils transfer to the new school in August 2010 or on completion of the new school;

(d)      that the new school’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 5 from December 2009;

(e)      that Notre Dame High School’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 7 from December 2006 and its intake capped at 100 at December 2006;

(f)       that St Columba’s High School’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 8 from December 2006 and its intake capped at 140 at December 2006;

(g)      that the pupils attending St Kenneth's Primary School and St Laurence’s Primary School be associated with St Stephen’s High School from December 2006;

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(h)      that the pupils attending St Patrick’s Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, St Gabriel’s Primary School, St Ninian’s Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School be associated with the new school from December 2009;

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(i)       that St Stephen’s High School be refurbished by 2013;

and that the consultation paper as submitted be amended as required.

(2)      that all interested parties, including school boards, be asked to make written submissions to the Director of Education Services at 105 Dalrymple Street, Greenock PA15 1HU by no later than 12 November 2004;

(3)      that the Director of Education Services prepare a report on the results of the consultative process for consideration at a future meeting of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee.

(C) The Siting and Primary School Associations of the New School to be built to replace Greenock High School and Wellington Academy

Decided:  that it be recommended to the Policy and Strategy Committee:

(1) that the following proposals be issued for consultation and made available to all interested parties:-

Option 1

(a)      that the new non-denominational secondary school with a capacity of 1400 to replace Greenock High School and Wellington Academy be built on the site of the Ravenscraig pitches, for completion around March 2008;

(b)      that Greenock High School formally close in June 2007 and the pupils transfer to the new school on its completion;

(c)      that the pupils attending Clune Park Primary School, Highholm Primary School, Kilmacolm Primary School and Slaemuir Primary School continue to be associated with Port Glasgow High School;

(d)      that the pupils attending Highlander’s Academy, Overton Primary School, Lady Alice Primary School, Earnhill Primary School, Ravenscraig Primary School, Inverkip Primary School, Wemyss Bay Primary School, King’s Glen Primary School and Oakfield Primary School be associated with the new school from December 2006;

(e)      that Port Glasgow High School be refurbished by 2013;

Option 2

(a)      that the new non-denominational secondary school with a capacity of 1100 to replace Greenock High School and Wellington Academy be built on the site of the Ravenscraig Pitches, for completion around March 2008;

(b)      that Wellington Academy’s catchment area be delineated and capped as shown in Appendix 4 from December 2006;

(c)      that Greenock High School’s catchment area be delineated and capped as shown in Appendix 5 from December 2006;

(d)      that Greenock High School formally close in June 2007 and the pupils transfer to the new school on its completion;

(e)      that the new school’s catchment area be delineated as shown in Appendix 6 from December 2006;

(f)       that the combined intake to Wellington Academy and Greenock High School be capped at 200 in December 2006;

(g)      that the pupils attending King’s Glen Primary School and Oakfield Primary School be associated with Port Glasgow High School from December 2006;

(h)      that the pupils attending Highlander’s Academy, Overton Primary School, Lady Alice Primary School, Earnhill Primary School, Ravenscraig Primary School, Inverkip Primary School and Wemyss Bay Primary School be associated with the new school from December 2006;

(i)       that Port Glasgow High School be refurbished by 2013;

and that the consultation paper as submitted be amended as required.

(2)      that all interested parties, including school boards, be asked to make written submissions to the Director of Education Services at 105 Dalrymple Street, Greenock PA15 1HU by no later than 12 November 2004;

(3)      that the Director of Education Services prepare a report on the results of the consultative process for consideration at a future meeting of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee.

(D) that an indicative list of facilities which it is proposed to include in the new build provision be made available as soon as possible.

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Progress with the Revised Draft Outline Business Case for a PPP School Buildings Project

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There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing an update on progress with the revised draft Outline Business Case for a PPP School Buildings Project.

Decided:

(1)      that the progress of the revised draft Outline Business Case be noted;  and

(2)      that it be noted that the final version of the OBC will be circulated to all Members following the decisions of the Committee.