School Estate Consultation

Tuesday 17th January 2012

Meldrum Academy, Meldrum

7 - 9pm

The Meldrum Network

Meldrum Network Profile

1 Academy – Meldrum Academy (916 pupils)12 Primaries – rolls from 31 pupils to 353 pupils

13 schools Accessible Rural0 schools Remote Rural0 schools Very Remote Rural0 schools NOT Rural

Meldrum Responses to Survey

• 54 people identified themselves as living in and around Meldrum

• 65% are parents, carers or grandparents of Aberdeenshire pupils

Q1 – Schools should clearly be identified within defined communities

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 90%, No 3%, Don’t Know 7%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 82%, No 7%, Don’t Know 11%

• Themes from this question:– Importance of school and

community to each other– School Zones and

Parental Choice– Not always possible in

every community

Q2 – School buildings should be seen as a focal point for community activities

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 82%, No 7%, Don’t Know 11%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 76%, No 9%, Don’t Know 15%

• Themes from this question:– Use of other community

buildings– Potential difficulties for using

schools (availability, space not suitable, locking up building)

Q3 – Can grouping smaller schools together as clusters under one Head Teacher be beneficial?

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 25%, No 56%, Don’t Know 19%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 38%, No 51%, Don’t Know 11%

• Themes from this question:– Need for a head teacher in

each school– Good idea / Sharing

expertise

Q4 – No primary pupil should be expected to undertake a home-to-school journey of more than 45 minutes

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 93%, No 7%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 92%, No 8%

• Themes from this question:– Long journeys tiring for

young children– Rural areas sometimes

make long journeys necessary

– Shorter journey times suggested

Q5 – No individual child should have to be educated in a school with fewer than 3 contemporaries

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 77%, No 23%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 64%, No 36%

• Themes from this question:– Development of social

skills– Benefits of small schools– More children would be

preferable

Q6 – The viability of schools with rolls of 19 pupils or less should be the subject of careful scrutiny

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 80%, No 20%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 63%, No 37%

• Themes from this question:– All schools should be

scrutinised– Difficult for teachers as

well as pupils– Benefit of Small Schools

Q7 – What do you think is the best number of pupils to have in a primary school?

Aberdeenshire responses 0-50 - 8.6%50-100 - 19.1%100-150 - 20.5%150-200 - 23.8%200-300 - 20.6%300-400 - 6.2%400+ - 1.1%

Meldrum responses0-50 - 38.3%50-100 - 21.3%100-150 - 17.0%150-200 - 6.4%200-300 - 8.5%300-400 - 6.4%400+ - 2.1%

•Themes from this question:Class sizesBenefit of small schoolsJust the right size for everyone to know each other

Q8 – Any town school operating below 66% of its current capacity within a town also operating at less than 75% capacity should be scrutinised

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 68%, No 32%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 73%, No 27%

• Themes from this question:– Future Roll Forecasts– Financial Viability– Scrutiny shouldn’t

automatically mean closure

Q9 – Any school building whose condition or fitness for purpose is cause for concern should be assessed for options available

• Aberdeenshire responses– Yes 96%, No 4%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 89%, No 11%

• Themes from this question:– Refurbishment and repair– Repair not closure

Q10 – Do you feel that school zones in Aberdeenshire should be reviewed?

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 61%, No 39%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 68%, No 32%

• Themes from this question:– Regular reviews needed– Parental Choice versus

Enforcing Catchment Areas

Q11 – Are you aware that schools with less than 70 pupils are in receipt of a rural grant from the Scottish Government?

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 14%, No 86%

• Meldrum responses – Yes 19%, No 81%

• Themes from this question:– More information

requested

Q12 – Rank the issues in the order most important to you

Main Differences:

School’s Place in Community ranks first ahead of Condition of School Buildings in Meldrum Response

Meldrum ResponseAberdeenshire Response

Q13 – Other issues to considered• Aberdeenshire themes:

– Quality of Teaching and Education– Importance of Rural Communities– Changing demographics and need for planning– Facilities within schools, accessibility and school grounds– Class sizes

• Meldrum themes:– Rural Sustainability– Staffing pressures– Early Years– Catchment Areas– School Transport

Over to you!