Specialist school site put up for sale
Pupils will be taught in homes
A Perth school building for children who have fallen out of mainstream education has been put on the market.
Balnacraig School on Perth’s Fairmount Terrace has been put up for sale for £570,000.
This comes as the school looks to move away from its current way of working to offer its children care in a smaller environment that more resembles a traditional family home.
In recent years, Balnacraig has opened up smaller homes in Perth, Pitlochry, Blairgowrie and Errol, and it is understood the school plans to open more.
Once the main school building in Kinnoull is sold, the children will be moved into different accommodation within the area. Staff will continue to work with the young people in care and education.
Alison Morely, chief executive of Balnacraig School, said: “In recent years care has been increasingly provided in smaller therapeutic environments away from Balncraig School which has proved very successful in delivering improved outcomes for the young people living there.
“This decentralised approach more closely resembles a traditional family home, providing consistent staff and close individualised support, preparing young people for transition to independent life after care.
“Given this strategy, delivering education at Balnacraig School has been under review.
“While we have been privileged to operate in such an enviable location, young people will now be provided alternative accommodation locally, in smaller homes separate to learning, suiting young people’s needs more closely.
“It is anticipated current staff will move to support the young people either in their care setting or in education.
“We will continue to develop our blended approach to delivering education, using local resources, work placements and other education establishments, providing a more diverse learning experience and one which young people have a greater chance of engaging in and achieving.”
Balnacraig began looking after girls away from their homes in 1843, and until 1971 four women cared for up to 50 girls at the school.
At that point, Balnacraig became a list ‘D’ school for girls until it became an independent school in 1986.
Boys were then allowed to attend the school in 1989, and ever since has been caring for children who are unable to attend mainstream education and need a more therapeutic environment.
In 2014, Balnacraig opened a new service called ‘Safe Base’ in Pitlochry.
Later the same year, a close support service called ‘Am Bruach’ opened at Balnacraig’s main site in Kinnoull. Two further houses then opened, including Eden House near Blairgowrie and South Inchmichael Cottage in Errol, which looks after three young people.
Property agent Savills says potential interest will come from similar institutional users or developers interested in refurbishing the property for housing, retirement living or leisure use. Richard Cottingham from Savills said: “Given the size, location and appearance of the property, it is likely to have wide appeal to a range of occupiers and developers.”
We will continue to develop our blended approach to delivering education