Public consultation on schools merger resumes after delay

Consultation on a potential merger of two of Dundee’s secondary schools has resumed after being halted because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dundee City Council had started taking opinions in February about plans to merge Braeview Academy and Craigie High School.

If approved, a new £60 million school would be built on the site of the former St Saviour’s High School, which lies south of Drumgeith Road, and would have capacity for around 1,800 pupils.

The proposal also include plans to realign the catchment areas of Harris Academy’s feeder schools, with the removal of Invergowrie Primary as an associated primary.

The consultation process had been due to last from February 10 to March 27 and was nearly complete when the schools were forced to shut due to the pandemic.

It has been extended for a further three-week period, which started today, for the council to have a “comprehensive overview” from people of the proposals.

Parents, staff and pupils are invited to respond to the proposals by email or in writing. These responses will be considered by the council and the statements, questions and replies will be posted publicly each week on the consultation website.

The plans had sparked criticism from opposition councillors when they were announced at the start of the year, with Labour councillor Michael Marra labelling the move as “totally unacceptable” and claimed it was to “save money”.

This was denied by Councillor Stewart Hunter, children and families service convener, who said the merged school would have “better facilities and be bigger so there would be more opportunities”.

Speaking on the resumption of the consultation process, Mr Hunter said: “We have stressed that no final decisions will be made on the proposals until a full report on the results of the consultation can be considered by the committee.

“We want to ensure that as many people can have their voice heard. Schools were closed understandably to fight coronavirus, which left us with a small part of the consultation to complete.

“This three-week period will allow people the opportunity to take part.

“I would urge them to let us hear their views on these extremely important matters.”