Tri-school proposal fails to attract support

EDUCATION: £55m project collapses as local authorities cannot agree on how to fund planned super-facility

A new high school should be built in the Carse of Gowrie after plans for a £55 million Western Gateway “superschool” collapsed, it has been claimed.

Plans for the 1,000-capacity school, which would have taught children from the ages of two to 18, failed to win the backing of Angus and Perth and Kinross Councils.

The three local authorities released a joint statement yesterday confirming the tri-school plan has been dropped.

Labour Perth and Kinross Councillor Alasdair Bailey said the decision strengthens his arguments for a new high school in the Carse of Gowrie.

He said: “It is now clear that there is a pressing need for secondary schooling provision to be reviewed. We must now work together to push for secondary education closer to our kids’ homes.”

According to Angus Council papers, the superschool would have cost around £55m, making it one of the most expensive schools in Scotland.

A report to go before Angus Council children and learning committee next week states the local authority would have had to re-prioritise its spending commitments or borrow more money to meet its expected contribution of £15-20 million. There were also concerns about closing rural primary schools in Angus as a result.

Perth and Kinross council officers also had fears about the cost of running the school and said there is no requirement for additional capacity following the opening of Bertha Park High School.

Councillor Derek Wann, Angus Council’s children and learning convener, said: “Exploring the opportunities for a shared school was the right thing to do, but unfortunately it isn’t going to meet our needs.”

Perth and Kinross Council lifelong learning convener Councillor Caroline Shiers said: “On this occasion, the proposed tri-council school is not feasible, but we will continue to pursue new and innovative projects across all service areas.”

Stewart Hunter, Dundee City Council children and families convener, said: “While the consultation response from Dundee citizens taking part supported the idea of a tri-council two18 Joint Community Learning Campus, progress towards this is only possible where the proposal is deemed viable by all three councils.

“It is disappointing for us that we are not bringing forward the two-school as it was by far the preferred option.”

The tri-school proposal formed part of a consultation on a potential shake-up of the school estate in Dundee.

Proposals also put forward for consideration included merging Braeview and Craigie academies and to allow pupils who attend Barnhill Primary School to attend either Grove Academy in Broughty Ferry or Monifieth High School.

We must now work together to push for secondary education closer to our kids’ homes. ALASDAIR BAILEY