Government report raises concerns over PKC schools
Four secondary school estates across Perth and Kinross are inadequate and a further seven primary schools require significant investment or even replacement, according to the Scottish Government.
The government believes buildings and grounds at Perth Academy, Perth Grammar School, Perth High School and Blairgowrie High School need upgrading as they are showing “major problems and/or not operating optimally” in terms of providing an environment which “supports quality learning and teaching”.
And it reckons Balhousie, Balbeggie, Cleish, Logiealmond, Methven, North Muirton and Ruthvenfield Primary Schools are all in a “poor” condition as they are currently showing “major defects and/or not operating adequately”.
The council’s former Tory/Liberal Democrat administration announced with great fanfare back in February it had plans to build a £50 million replacement for Perth High School and a public consultation on that project is expected to start shortly.
But according to the government, the replacement might not be ready for another five years.
And it says PKC currently has no plans in place to either refurbish or replace Cleish, Logiealmond or Ruthvenfield Primary Schools, despite the fabric of these buildings being rated as “poor” three years in a row.
Statistics the Government published last week also shows Craigie, Dunbarney, Dunning, Inchview, Newhill, Oakbank, Robert Douglas Memorial, St John’s RC and St Madoes Primary Schools were almost full when pupils started their 2018/19 term last September.
They show Craigie Primary had 201 pupils on its rolls at the start of the term while Dunbarney had 195, Dunning had 117, Inchview had 401, Newhill had 386, Oakbank had 403, Robert Douglas Memorial had 455, St John’s RC had 398 and St Madoes had 136.
The schools’ capacities are 217, 207, 125, 418, 423, 434, 462, 418 and 150 respectively. The government says PKC has no plans to expand any of them.
On the other end of the scale Abernyte Primary had just four pupils on its rolls at the start of the term, Aberuthven had 14, Blairingone had five, Collace had 22, Glendelvine had 20, Glenlyon had 11, Guildtown had 14, Kinloch Rannoch had 15, Logiealmond had 11 and Logierait had 16.
According to the government, the best primaries in Perth and Kinross in terms of their suitability and condition are Abernethy, Alyth, Breadalbane, Crieff, Errol, Inchview, Invergowrie, Kinross, Newhill, Oakbank, St John’s RC, St Stephen’s RC and Tulloch Primary Schools. All 13 were judged to be “performing well and operating efficiently”.
The only secondaries deemed to be doing the same were Breadalbane Academy, Crieff High School, Kinross High School and St John’s RC Academy.
A council spokesperson commented: “PKC is undertaking a transformation review ‘Securing the Future of the School Estate’. A number of schools have planned improvements as a result of the review.
“Balhousie Primary School and North Muirton Primary School will be replaced by a new school sited at North Muirton in August 2022. Perth High School is also planned for replacement at a cost of £50m.
“Plans are underway to replace the dining hall and PE facilities at Methven Primary School. Logiealmond Primary School requires a new dining hall to improve the rating of the school.
“Feasibility studies are underway at both Ruthvenfield Primary School and Cleish Primary School and Balbeggie Primary School will be considered in the future.”