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Councillors considered the way forward for Crossroads Primary at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 16 December 2009. It was agreed that, based on the financial and technical information currently available, there was a case to hold a public consultation which will consider the wider issues as they relate to the school.
Amongst the options were: a refurbishment of the school, a new-build school, relocation to another site and closure with transfer of pupils to nearby new-build Galston Primary. These options will be included in the public consultation exercise which will be held in the New Year.
Careful consideration was given to all the options, which relate to the school, which houses 52 pupils, 29 of whom are there by placing request. Of the 23 catchment area children, 10 are residents of South Ayrshire.
The option appraisal – an analytical and objective process, with no pre-determined outcome - concluded that best value was represented by transferring the pupils to Galston Primary School. Pupils will be easily accommodated within Galston Primary – a modern, state-of-the-art building, formally opened early in 2009, which has been nationally recognised for its facilities.
Councillors also agreed that any capital money freed as a result of closing the school should be retained to benefit the children in the Loudoun learning community and particularly at Loudoun Academy, where any investment will continue to benefit the Crossroads children.
The future of Crossroads Primary School had been considered during the previous Better Schools: Better Learning consultation exercise. In March 2008, Cabinet agreed that education should continue at the school, with renewal and refurbishment of the building at a cost of £650,000.
But, during summer 2009, structural engineers discovered a problem with the wooden upright supports to the building, causing the school to be temporarily relocated into alternative accommodation at Bellfield Primary School, Kilmarnock, for the start of the 2009/10 academic session.
Independent consultants commissioned to investigate the extent of the problem reported that all structural posts and external timber cladding needed to be replaced at an estimated cost of £399,000.
Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, Councillor Iain Linton, said: “I am sorry that we are back at the stage of having to consult on the future of the school. I know the parents, pupils and staff are very proud of Crossroads Primary. We have shown in the previous consultation that we listen carefully to everyone’s views and weigh all factors carefully.”
Graham Short, Executive Director of Educational and Social Services, said: “This has been a very troubled time for Crossroads Primary School. I am very grateful, particularly to Head Teacher Pamela Wilson and her staff and to the Bellfield Primary School staff and community for all they have done to support the children.
“We have not yet entered into the consultation period. This will commence as soon as possible in the New Year. Public consultation is a significant exercise, not to be undertaken lightly, since it will inevitably have an impact upon the pupils, teachers and parents.”
The proposed consultation will obviously require to be undertaken in accordance with the current statutory framework, but the Council is also fully aware of the contents and status of the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Bill and has given its public commitment that the proposed consultation in respect of Crossroads Primary School will also reflect the spirit and underlying principles of the Bill, at least to the extent that these are not incompatible with the existing rules governing the statutory consultation process.
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