NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

REPORT

To:

From: Head of Resources

Learning & Leisure Services Committee

Date: 14'h January 2013

Subject:

Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School

I Ref: JMcwFC I

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of the report is:

(i) to provide committee with appropria,G detail of the responses and issues raised throughout the recent consultation period, along with the service's responses to the same; and

(ii) to seek approval for the recommendations below.

Recommendations

The Learning and Leisure Services Committee is recommended:

(i) to approve that, at the end of school session 2013/14, the provision of education at Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School be discontinued and a new school be established and that all pupils currently attending both the current Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools will be provided with education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises;

(ii) to approve that, from the start of school session 2014/15 all primary school pupils who under the present arrangements would have transferred to Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools will be provided with secondary education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises; and

(iii) to note that, as an early priority in the next phase of the Schools & Centres 21 Programme, a new build school will be constructed to replace the amalgamated schools on the existing Cumbernauld High School site.

Members wishing further information please contact: James McKinstry, Head of Resources, on 01236 812269, or Christine Pollock, Executive Director of Learning & Leisure Services, on 01236 812336.

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NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL : LEARNING 81 LEISURE SERVICES

Consultation Report on the Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School

Report by the Head of Resources

1. BACKGROUND/COMMENTARY ON THE CONSULTATION

1.1 Committee approved the service to proceed with a statutory education consultation at its meeting of 1 October 2012. The consultation was carried out with regard to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 201 0, with the report on the consultation attached to this report as Appendix A. There was a significant number of responses from the Consultation with over 1600 individual responses received along with approximately 700 people attending the public meeting, with many issues being raised in the following categories:

0 Financial Issues 0

0

0

0 Timescale for the proposal 0 Walking Routes 0 Transitional Arrangements

Suitability/Condition of the two school buildings Loss of local school and impact on the Community Issues to do with the quality of educational provision

1.2 Detailed responses were received from Parent Councils, various Action Groups and from a number of Elected Officials.

1.3 Learning & Leisure Services have responded to all of the issues raised through the Consultation process in the post consultation report.

1.4 Education Scotland have reported on the consultation and their report is attached to the consultation report. Learning & Leisure Services have responded to all issues raised by Education Scotland.

1.5 Although there was overwhelming support against the proposal and, in particular, to retain the existing Abronhill High School, many respondents did recognise the challenge facing the council with under occupancy in both schools. The following table illustrates the position up to 2021 based on the 201 1 census.

I I 2013 I 2015 I 2017 I 2019 I 2021 I

~ ~~

I 53 I 54 I 5 c l

Source: Report on "Review of Non-denominational Primary and Secondary School Roll Projections within the North Area Committee Boundaries" - Learning & Leisure Services Committee, 1 October 201 2.

1.6 A number of amendments and alternative proposals have been put to the Service as part of the Consultation as follows:

Delay the rationalisation until a new school is built for 2016

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Carry out an element of refurbishment of Abronhill High School and build a smaller new Cumbernauld High School Build two new smaller secondary schools Reconfigure the three non-denominational secondary schools in Cumbernauld Retain both secondary schools and move associated primary schools into both buildings, creating a 3-18 campus on each site Refurbish Abronhill High School and relocate other Council services into the building to form a community hub; improve swimming pool to generate additional revenue Construct a new Greenfaulds High School as a larger school and rezone Cumbernauld High School to Greenfaulds and Abronhill High Schools and close Cumbernauld High School Build the new amalgamated school on the Abronhill site Use of Abronhill High School as the merger site during the construction of the new school Build another floor onto Abronhill High School Promote the School as a Gregory’s Girl tourist scheme Make Abronhill High School an integrated Secondary Deliver revenue savings elsewhere in the budget

1.7 All of the alternative proposals have been assessed as follows:

(i) How they address the 3 strategic priorities for developing a sustainable estate as approved by the Learning & Leisure Services Committee in June 2012, as follows:

0 Strategic Priority 1 : There should be an improvement in occupancy/capacity ratios (known as Building Utilisation); Strategic Priority 2: We should be increasing the number of schools rated as A or B for both Condition and Suitability; and Strategic Priority 3: Any strategy should work towards reducing the overall Council Carbon Footprint.

(ii) The proposals were also assessed against the 2 objectives set down in the original consultation document as follows:

Objective 1: The current schools are not cost effective with significant under utilisation. The rationalisation will bring savings which can be either reinvested or helped to minimise savings in Learning & Leisure Services and other Council Services; and Objective 2: It will provide the best opportunity for the new build school in the future to be adequately funded.

1.8 An assessment was also made of the capital and revenue implications relevant to the alternative proposal being considered.

1.9 In all cases it is not considered that the alternative proposals offered a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service. Nevertheless the service believes there may be some merit in delaying the rationalisation for a year for the following reasons:

i) The volume and breadth of response which was received during the consultation exercise; and

ii) To give more time to take all of the issues raised into account as part of the transitional planning, in particular, curriculum planning.

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2 ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES OF DELAYING PROPOSAL FOR A YEAR

2.1 Although this option was not put forward in any of the written submissions, it has been assessed due to responses received including concerns regarding the timescale of the proposal.

2.2 This option would achieve the three strategic priorities, albeit delayed by one year. Acceptance of this proposal would put additional pressure on the revenue budget in the intervening year.

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages relating to this proposal:

Advantages :

0 Would allow a further 12 months to plan the amalgamation of the two schools along with the associated transition planning. There would also be a better opportunity for planning the transition of P6 and P7 to the new school;

0 Would provide both schools with a further 12 months to work towards reconciling their curriculum, particularly for the current S3 cohort; and

Would not require additional staffing allocation beyond the normal amalgamation allowance.

Disadvantages:

0 Protracted implementation which may lead to potential loss of staff and pupils with an associated impact on the whole school community and on continuity of learning; and

Delay in delivering financial savings.

3 WAY FORWARD

3.1 In considering the way forward it is important also that we give consideration to the various issues which have been raised through the public consultation process. With this in mind Learning & Leisure Services would recommend that the way forward should be to cease education provision at the existing Cumbernauld High School and existing Abronhill High School from June 2014. We would establish a new school under a single senior management structure for August 2014.

3.2 Throughout next session as part of the transitional planning, work would continue to bring the two curriculums together fully for August 2014. This would involve during session 201 3/14 planning and constructing the new curricular structure and programme for August 2014 and appointment of the new middle management structure for full implementation in August 2014 on the Cumbernauld High School site. This extended period will ensure that time is available for further planning of curricular programmes and resource preparation by the new school management and staff. The agreed enhanced staffing as per council policy will be implemented from August 2013 which will enable additional support to manage the transition process.

3.3 The Language and Communication Support Centre will continue to operate from their current base with the present experienced management and staff and will continue to build on the excellent practice to ensure all young people maintain and develop the highly successful integration that is currently in place. Further consultation with young people, families and partner agencies will be carried out during session 2013/14 resulting in detailed plans being developed and implemented for all individual pupils. A key requirement to this will be that there will be no detriment to any individual young person.

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3.4

4

4.1

5

It is planned that as part of the next Phase of Schools & Centres 21 a new build school will be designed and built on the existing Cumbernauld High School site. The planning and delivery of a new build secondary school takes a minimum of three years to complete. The Parent Council, pupils and staff of the new school will be fully engaged in the process from design to completion.

EQUALITY CONS1 DERATlO NS

In line with section 10 of the post consultation report a Stage 2 Equality Impact Assessment has been progressed and has been posted on the Council website

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Learning and Leisure Services Committee is recommended:

0)

(ii)

(iii)

to approve that, at the end of school session 2013/14, the provision of education at Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School be discontinued and a new school be established and that all pupils currently attending both the current Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools will be provided with education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises;

to approve that, from the start of school session 2014115 all primary school pupils who under the present arrangements would have transferred to Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools will be provided with secondary education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises; and

to note that, as an early priority in the next phase of the Schools & Centres 21 Programme, a new build school will be constructed to replace the amalgamated schools on the existing Cumbernauld High School site.

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Appendix A

Consultation Report on the Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School

This report has been prepared having regard (in particular) to:

(a) Relevant written representation received by the Council (from any persons) during the consultation period;

Meeting; and (b) Oral representations made to the Council (by any person) at the Public

(c) Education Scotland report.

This report is available for inspection at:

(a) Learning & Leisure Services, Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, ML5 3BT;

(b) Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School; and

(c) Abronhill Library and Cumbernauld Library.

This document has been issued by the Learning and Leisure Service of North Lanarkshire Council under the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 201 0.

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Content of Report Pane

1. Background

2. Consultation Procedures

3. Views Expressed in the Consultation Process

i) i i) iii) iv) v) vi) vii) viii) ix)

xi) xii) xiii) xiv)

xvi) xvii) xviii) xix)

xxi) xxii) xxiii) xxiv)

xxvi) xxvii) xxviii) xxix)

xxxi) xxxi i)

x)

XV)

XX)

xxv)

xxx)

Parent Council of Abronhill High School Parent Council of Cumbernauld High School Parent Council of Whitelees Primary School Parent Council of Abronhill Primary School Parent Council of Carbrain Primary School Parent Council of Cumbernauld Primary School Parents of Pupils Supported by LCSC in Cumbernauld High School Staff Meeting in Abronhill High School Staff Meeting in Cumbernauld High School Pupil Consultation Responses from Head of Roads and Transportation Responses from Head of Facility Support Services Jamie Hepburn, MSP Clare Adamson, MSP Councillor Stephen Grant Councillor Tom Johnston Councillor Elizabeth lrvine Councillor Patrick Hogg Councillor William Goldie Community of Abronhill Save Abronhill High School Working Group Abronhill Regeneration Forum Abronhill Learning Trust EIS, North Lanarkshire Local Association Strathclyde Police Cumbernauld Village Community Council Kildrum Community Council Residents of Sheltered Housing, Larch Grove Scottish Socialist Party Public Meeting at Abronhill High School Public Meeting at Cumbernauld High School Facebook Campaign and Petitions

4.

5. Assessment of Alternative Proposals

6. School Visits

7. Allegations of Inaccuracies

8. Education Scotland Statement

9. Procedures for Ministerial Call-in

10. Equality Considerations

Response to the Views Expressed

4

4

4 - 4 0

40 - 48

4% - 53

53 - 54

54 - 55

55 - 57

57 - 58

58 - 59

7 2

List of Appendices

Appendix 1 :

Appendix 2: Education Scotland Report

Original Consultation Report

60

61 -76

77 - 80

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NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL : LEARNING & LEISURE SERVICES

Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools

Report bv the Head of Resources

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 At its meeting on lst October 2012 the Learning & Leisure Services Committee considered a paper on the proposed rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School.

1.2 The proposal reflects 2 important policy decisions by the council:

(i) The 201 2/13 - 201 5/16 financial plans. The council is required to make budget savings across each of these 3 years and the rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School is part of that strategy. The rationalisation will improve the efficiency of the school estate and reduce the need to make savings in other service areas. Toward a Sustainable Estate. Papers were presented to this Committee in June 2012 and October 2012 developing 3 strategic priorities for managing our estate and conducting Area Reviews across the 6 local Area Partnership boundaries across the Council.

(ii)

1.3 Appendix 1 is attached to this paper as the original consultation paper. Since the time of writing the original consultation paper we can confirm that, in managing our workforce, in line with our HR Policy agreed with Trade Unions, the proposal is an amalgamation of the two schools. It is important to clarify this as many respondents have referred to the proposal as a closure.

2 CONSULTATION PROCEDURES

2.1 The consultation process was carried out having regard to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 201 0.

2.2 In summary; the consultation process complied fully with the requirements of the Act and included the following key actions:

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(v)

(vi)

Consultation with a wider range of stakeholders including a public meeting. The six week consultation period. The inclusion of an educational benefits statement in the consultation document. A statement from Education Scotland (formerly HMle) and a published report covering the educational aspects of the proposal. An appropriate response by the council to any allegations of inaccuracies in the consultation information. A report on the consultation to be published at least three weeks before a final decision is taken on the proposal.

3 VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

3.1 A number of meetings were convened as part of the consultation and the main points raised were noted. In addition over 1,600 written responses were received from elected representatives, interest groups and individuals. Details are included below.

I. Meetings

0 Public meetings at Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School on the evenings of 24th and 25th October 2012.

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0

0

0

Meeting with Parent Council chairs of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School and all associated primary schools on Thursday 4'h October 2012. Staff meetings at Cumbernauld High School and Abronhill High School on 30th October 2012 and 1'' November 2012. Pupil Consultation meetings were held over the period 1" November 2012 to gth November 2012. In addition, the Head of Resources agreed to meet a delegation of Abronhill High School pupils on 6'h November 2012.

2. Written Responses

Overall, the responses were significantly against the proposal. The level of response was considerable and unprecedented in volume. In addition the breadth and depth of the responses was considerable. The main issues raised in the responses are summarised in sections 3 and 4 of this report. All the submissions are available for public reference in Learning & Leisure Services, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge. In addition 2 petitions were received.

3.2 In total over 1,600 responses were received through the consultation process with issues being raised in the following categories.

0 Financial Issues 0 Suitability/Condition of the two school buildings 0 Loss of local school and impact on the Community rn Issues to do with the quality of educational provision 0 Timescale for the proposal 0 Walking Routes 0 Transitional Arrangements

Copies of all responses can be viewed at Learning & Leisure Services, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge.

3.3 Parent Council of Abronhill High School

I.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Object to the proposal.

Suggest the proper zoning of catchment areas in Cumbernauld would sustain an adequate roll for 3 high schools.

Abronhill High School has constantly outperformed the majority of NLC schools including recent new builds and has a higher pupil destination success than others.

Increase in class sizes will minimise the educational benefit to all pupils.

Cumbernauld High School is not fit for purpose and other than being larger it offers no additional benefits to pupils from Abronhill High School.

Abronhill is being turned into a wilderness for secondary school pupils and the proposal is contrary to the Council's Corporate Plan.

Learning & Leisure Services do not consider Abronhill to be a community in itself.

The proposal would take away the ability within the school to increase the number of people enjoying a physically active life within their own community. This goes against the ethos of health and wellbeing and many clubs that promote health and fitness would be lost to the community.

The proposed transition period of circa of 4 to 5 months has never been attempted by the Council. There is no evidential proof of successful transition over such a short timeframe.

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10. With both schools having different curriculum for excellence programmes only one would be offered in an amalgamated school meaning that one set of pupils would lose out on a pre-planned programme of curriculum for excellence. This is not exactly an educational benefit.

11. Parent Council is shocked that the proposal comes such a short timescale from the recent appointment of a new head teacher and a new depute head teacher to Abronhill High School. As such they question local authority's ability to professionally forward plan and have lost all confidence in the Learning & Leisure Service. They believe the proposal is ill conceived, flawed and for saving money over the 3 year period and there is no concrete proof of a new school being built. They believe the proposal makes no financial sense.

12. The Parent Council are looking for Learning & Leisure Services to withdraw the proposal.

3.4 Parent Council of Cumbernauld High School

1. Financial Consideration should not be put before the education of children.

2. The proposed timescale of transferring pupils from Abronhill High School to the Cumbernauld High School site in August 2013 would be detrimental to the pupils and teachers and should not go ahead but should at least be postponed until a new school is built in 2016 as promised by North Lanarkshire Council.

3. This new build should not be dependent on the loss of any other services in the area.

4. The educational benefit statement only applies to the merged new school being on a new campus. Locating both schools into an existing building would be a negative experience and be detrimental to a necessary joining up and coming together process of the two schools. This would result in the practicalities of running two schools parallel to one another in the same building which would be unnecessary segregation. On a positive aspect it would be more effective with proper planning over time.

5. The difference in curricular structure in the current 3'' year pupils is critically important. A delay would be essential to avoid jeopardising the education of this year group. Furthermore careful curriculum harmonisation with long term planning is needed in order to make the joining process meaningful and overcome any difficulties.

6. Although the Parent Council do not believe that there are perceived animosities between the two school communities, barriers have been built up through the consultation process. Collaborations between the communities is necessary and would require to be carefully managed and designed to address any issues with a multi agency approach providing solutions. As a result proper transition could not be achieved for 2013. Opportunities need to be created for the 2 communities to come together with barriers coming down to achieve a successful merger. A delay of three years would give the Abronhill Community time to develop a community plan and to ensure that any losses they experience can be overcome e.g. Cumbernauld High School Parent Council suggest that an option may be to maintain PE facilities and operate this as a trust.

7. The timing of the proposed proposal would not allow effective transition planning from Primary to Secondary education to be carried out effectively. Very concerned about the transition issues for children in the Language and Community Support Centre. Furthermore to expect children to go through two transition periods rather than one is something that should not be expected.

8. There is a feeling in Cumbernauld that the town does not receive a proportional share of Council budgets. Previously Cumbernauld High School had been promised €1 Om in 2006 and the perceived savings of f3.3m over three years is a small amount of money and should be saved in other areas. The Council needs to make savings of f73.3m but

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has identified possibilities of f105m. Pupils in Cumbernauld High School should not pay for the price for earlier non-delivery of financial promises to the school.

In addition the Parent Council have put forward the following alternative proposal:

1. The Parent Council of Cumbernauld High School is strongly opposed to the proposed merger of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School in August 2013 and is advocating that the Council delays the merger and a transition to the Cumbernauld High School campus until the new school is built in 2016.

3.5 Parent Council of Whitelees Primary School

1. The proposal is in direct challenge to the North Lanarkshire Council Community Plan and to fulfil the vision of the community plan the facilities that benefit the Abronhill Community must be safeguarded and protected.

2. Abronhill has always been a satellite town with its own identity and has already lost 2 nursery schools, 1 primary school and 3 community centres. Abronhill is an integral part of Cumbernauld in its entirety with a clearly defined local base community with its own identity and local services.

3. For North Lanarkshire Council to propose to close Abronhill High School without any planning ahead for the benefit of the community suggests their dereliction of duty towards local tax payers and the people’s representation agreement.

4. Many shops rely on the term time revenue of pupils and teachers at the school, many families choose to live in Abronhill because of facilities being within walking distance, the school provides valuable after school hours use for sport fitness etc, Abronhill Regeneration Forum utilises school grounds for local Gala day and also for fund raising and performances are held in the school throughout the year and these are well attended by the Community.

5. The last HMle report states that Abronhill High School “strengthens the schools role in the Community for planning and improvements”.

6. Many concerns within the community regarding safety of their children on isolated paths through dense woodland to Cumbernauld High School. The Parents Forum believes this is in direct contravention to the Scottish Government paper “School Transport Safety”, which states that Authorities have to consider safety factors including volume, availability, and safety of crossings, sufficiency of paths, footpaths and medical conditions of any children. They also suggest that it is a direct contradiction to corporate plans of “Regeneration” aspiration of “Improving Community Safety”.

The Parent Forum suggests that, as the assessment of the routes would not be carried out by Learning & Leisure Services, there may be a requirement to upgrade the routes to a safe standard which would reduce the potential saving the consultation purports to give.

7. The Parent Forum believe that all potential routes are badly lit, in a poor state of repair and routed through dense woodland adjacent to a railway line with a requirement to cross bridges and walk up and down hills which become dangerous during the Autumn and Winter months.

8. In a study undertaken by the Community they have concluded that potentially 150 pupils would use private transport to and from the school, an increase of approximately 60 of that are currently driven to school. They suggest that this would increase carbon emissions contrary to the Council’s Corporate Aims. Furthermore in the document “The Way Ahead” it is stated that the Council wished to increase satisfaction with public transport. The Parent Forum suggests that major bus companies would not increase the amount of services available to the area within the hours of the highest need and the

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9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

morning services could potentially be over-run by children attempting to go to school denying seats to people relying on the service to go to their place of work. At the end of the school day there would be a potentially dangerous position of several hundred children waiting for buses beside a busy main road. In addition the cost to send a child to school by bus could be over f30 per month which many people would not be able to afford. Furthermore the Parent Forum suggests that HMle have confirmed that the safety of children on their route to school is of primary concern to them.

The proposal will result in a drop in educational standards for Children at Abronhill High School at least for a 3 year period whilst a new build is being constructed. Parent Council submission refers to a study by the Hay Group which states that “over half of the school mergers studied resulted in the sustained decline in standards of performance for students”. www. h a w roup. Co. u Wed ucat ion

The tools required of the service to avert such a decline in standards are not evident within the consultation document. Nor are they assured that the additional resources are part of the educational benefits statements or the proposal.

They suggest that the proposal would cause problems for children in the Language and Communication Learning Centre in relation to their progression and integration with the mainstream curriculum. The achievement of many of these pupils would be put in jeopardy and disrupted.

The Parent Council make the point that the current first years at Abronhill High School are the first cohort to leave Whiteless Primary School since its recent excellent inspection and are disappointed that after having such a good educational experience they will now be crammed into a fit to bursting older school with not much positive to say for itself other than there may be more subjects offered.

The Parent Council has suggested that the educational benefits statement is inherently flawed as it relates to a new school build which is not part of the rationalisation but an early consideration in the next phase of school builds. They suggest the consultation must show evidence of educational benefits which the merger will bring to all pupils after a merger. Furthermore they state that the service has never rationalised two schools into one existing campus previously therefore there is no point of reference to support the proposal.

As the current Cumbernauld High School catchment has two areas within the top 20 of most deprived areas in North Lanarkshire and there is a direct relationship between education and deprivation on children the parent council ask what educational benefits can be brought to these children when studies have identified that children from areas of deprivation benefit from smaller school sizes (government papers and independent studies). The submission then goes on to make comments about these papers and studies but does not provide reference to them.

There is no adequate access for disabled pupils within Cumbernauld High School and how this problem might be overcome is contrary to the guidelines of the Education Act of 201 0.

An increase in the roll within the Cumbernauld High School building would pose a threat to the cumulative success of the units ASN pupils and their integration into mainstream education with no service experience of managing such a transitional issue existing. This may put the future of the learning unit at risk and the proposal convenes both the Education Act of 2010 and may breach articles of the Education (Assisted Special Needs) Scotland Act 2009.

Concerned about the current condition of Cumbernauld High School and suggests that the service has ignored comments made by HMle in their reports in 2005 and 2008 to make improvements to the school. Furthermore the Parent Forum questions the conditions and suitability ratings of both Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High

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School. This is in reference to two papers that were presented to Committee in August 201 2.

18. The submission then goes on to question whether Cumbernauld High School is a school that would be fit to be the receiving school in this merger. Particularly given it has not had any refurbishment work done that was flagged up by HMle in 2008.

19. The error in the condition ratings of the Abronhill High School questions the rationale for an open and transparent consultation process as being inherently flawed and in disrepute. Furthermore the Parent Forum believes that the consultation document is a “cut and paste” vision of what pupils could expect in a new building. The document lists several things all of which are already provided for in the Abronhill High School building.

20. The Parent Forum believes that there is a lack of transparency and there is ambiguity in the financial information contained within the consultative document. They also believe that the information is factually inaccurate and presented in a misleading way.

21, The Parent Forum believe that the proposal breaches the Government policy of “Getting it Right for Every Child” and furthermore until the new build is actually commenced the children attending the amalgamated school, particular those with additional support needs, are unlikely to reach their potential and could face a range of risks which have not been properly assessed.

22. The Parent Forum are concerned that there are children in the current 3rd and 4‘h year onwards at Abronhill High School who have been subject to a previous rationalisation exercise at Glenhead Primary School and they have a concern that the Council have failed to get it right for this group of children.

In addition Whitelees Primary Parents Forum have suggested a number of ‘alternatives for consideration.

1. Abronhill High School should be maintained within the current education estate and an assessment should be done of the costs of refurbishment.

2. The service should investigate the relocation of one or more council based facility into Abronhill High School e.g. local Library and existing Community Centre.

3. CLD and all Community Educational Services should be relocated from the Muirfield Centre in Brown Road, Seafar to Abronhill High School.

4. The Parent Forum recognised that Cumbernauld High School requires a new build and not a major refurbishment but this should be one designed to suit a smaller rolkapacity school which would allow a relative stable school class size, be advantageous to the ASN pupils and become integrated into the mainstream curriculum and provide flexibility in land utilisation within the existing curtilage of Cumbernauld High School providing opportunities for enhanced facilities. The opportunity of a new build school would allow this to bring Cumbernauld High School into the 21’‘ Century.

5. If a new build of this size was not deemed feasible the Parent Council suggests the service should investigate the possibility of merging Carbrain Primary School with Cumbernauld High School to create a 3-18 campus producing some revenue savings. This would remove Carbrain Primary School out of its central situation in the midst of a deprivation area which is a cluster area for police statistics on various crimes.

3.6 Parent Council of Abronhill Primary School

1. Make reference to the 2011/14 Corporate Plan stating the desire to create strong sustainable town centres and communities that are attractive places to live in, work and visit and also the Schools & Centres 21 programme where we are determined that schools are seen as facilities to benefit entire communities.

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2. Raise concerns about impact on local businesses.

3. Suggest that Abronhill is separated from Cumbernauld through natural boundaries such as The Glen and Valley.

4. Believe that alternatives should be looked at to deal with the under utilisation of both Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School.

5. In agreement that Cumbernauld High School deserve a new build school but not at the detriment of Abronhill High School.

6. Do not accept that Abronhill High School is a C for suitability. However do accept that this is not mentioned in the rationale given for the proposal but it is included in the consultative document.

7. Do not believe that the educational benefits have been considered at the heart of the proposal as they have not been included in the rationale. As a result believe the proposal is entirely cost driven. In relation to the educational benefits statement a number of points are made by the parent council:

0 As the benefit statement is mainly focussed on the new build they do not feel it is relevant to the majority of pupils currently attending Abronhill High School as they would be moving to the current building of Cumbernauld High School. Question whether educational benefit statement has been produced in line with the 2010 Act.

0 Question whether North Lanarkshire Council has a proven track record in school realignments as never merged two schools in the same manner as this i.e. one secondary school into another for the same length of time as this proposal will be expected to remain. All the previous amalgamations have had years of planning not weeks.

0 Makes reference to a national report by the Hay Group concluding that there was a 68% drop in performance in secondary schools which were merged and of those whose performance dipped 51 % did not recover to the pre-merger levels during the period of study. www.havnroup,co.uk/education

State that Abronhill High School is currently outperforming other schools in North Lanarkshire which have amalgamated in the past. Also compare Abronhill High School to other schools in North Lanarkshire in relation to positive destinations and believe that the proposal will have a negative impact on attainment of pupils at Abronhill High School.

0 Makes reference to Scottish Government position that smaller class sizes allow enhanced levels of pupil teacher interaction and contribute to giving Scotland’s young people better life chances by increasing attainment and realising their ambition. This is put in practice in Abronhill High School through smaller pupil teacher ratios that allow increased teacher time and also make reference to Abronhill High School coming 4th in the UK Maths Challenge against over 20 Scottish Schools, the highest placed North Lanarkshire School. As a result pupils must be benefitting from the Learning and Teaching available at Abronhill High School.

0 In relation to more choice for pupils Greenfaulds High School, with its much larger roll, offers a small number of more subject choices at senior level. There is equal movement between the 3 schools, in relation to pupils travelling for consortium arrangements. Therefore the argument that a larger school offers more choice for pupils is not supported by current data. Delivery of advanced courses of study will remain an area where Council’s will need to adopt a flexible approach and use all of their available resources.

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8.

9.

10.

11.

0 The consultation document outlines a variety of benefits which come from a new build all of which Abronhill High School already has e.g. departments with classrooms grouped together, staff bases for each department, an average of 7 sinks to each science class, a library and a computer room where pupils can work at intervals and lunchtimes and save work to do at home.

0 Abronhill High School is above NLC in Scottish average performance in exam results and is top of the table in North Lanarkshire regarding positive destinations for school leavers and is an example of good practice in literacy provision. Examples throughout the school of various levels of achievement and good facilities e.g. high participation in PE compared to other schools in North Lanarkshire. Fail to see how the Abronhill High School building can be impeding the delivery of activities and the boarding up of the building would not be making efficient use of resources and infrastructure.

0 Fully support the objection submitted by the Parents of pupils supported by Language & Communication Support Unit within Cumbernauld High School to the proposal.

0 Believe that the section on the wider range of staff skills in the educational benefits statement is of subjective opinion and the section on improved conditions for staff is of no consideration to parents or pupils.

Believe that a good ethos is not something that can be lifted and taken elsewhere. It takes significant time to develop and believe parental involvement contributes significantly to children’s achievement. Feel that this involvement would diminish if the school were removed from local community quoting a research document by the Lytton Consultancy, United States as a point of reference.

0 Believe that the proposal would have a detrimental impact on pupils within Abronhill High School catchment.

0 Believe it is an unrealistic timescale for successful transition from Primary to Secondary School.

0 Concerned that if the proposal goes ahead that children from the associated Primary Schools would be dispersed because they would not all go to Cumbernauld High School and the foundation of learning which they have picked up in associated Primary Schools would be lost.

,

Many parents have expressed concerns about children walking the secluded and dangerous pathways to Cumbernauld High School should they have to attend.

The proposal would be a direct cause of a drop in educational attainment standards in Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire.

The social and economic cost to the Community of Abronhill will have an impact on the local authority finance and will lead to a lack of development within the South Community growth area due to a declining neighbourhood with North Lanarkshire’s resources being directed at limited parts of the town of Cumbernauld.

The Council should not close a school which has increasing opportunities for pupil.

In addition a number of alternative proposals have been put forward by the Parent Council.

1. Savings should be made from other areas of the proposals contained within the E A05m document.

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2. Other community facilities should be moved into Abronhill High School and support detailed plan submitted by the Working Group.

3. Income could be generated by opening up the building for further uses and retro fitting with renewable energy technologies.

4. Existing buildings should be refurbished to improve the Council’s carbon emissions targets.

5. Research shows the cost of raw materials has risen so drastically in the past 10 years that it has cancelled out the previous 100 years of decreasing prices and some local authorities are looking at standardisation of school designs and block procurement of materials. By the year 2016 the cost of raw materials may be so high to render new builds unaffordable. The Scottish Government’s investment in the “circular economy” model may force Council’s to refurbish rather than rebuild especially if they are serious about reducing carbon emissions. As an aside the flexibility of design and new builds mentioned in the consultation document would be gone through standard builds with the only truly flexible design being a building such as Abronhill High School which has already had open areas reconfigured and new rooms created.

In summary, the Parent Council believe it would make more economical sense to refurbish Abronhill High School rather than rebuild thereby using the existing asset base as the start point. This allows the greatest flexibility in design being achieved as Abronhill High School already has open areas reconfigured and new rooms created. In addition, would suggest a smaller new build for Cumbernauld High School.

6. The meagre savings suggested have been contradicted by Learning & Leisure Services Officers are no excuse to close a highly valued establishment within Abronhill and they strongly oppose the rationalisation of the two schools.

3.7 Parent Council of Carbrain Primary School

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Concerned over the transitional time available for the current primary 7s at all feeder primary schools who will be starting secondary school in August 201 3.

The advantages of Cumbernauld High School having a small roll to the community might be hindered by increasing the numbers by 480 more children.

The current associated schools of Abronhill High School are not involved in the current transition process for Cumbernauld High School. Pupils would not get the opportunity to create good relationships with their new classmates and teachers.

Parents and children are concerned about the perceived rivalry between Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School.

The rationalisation would contribute to an already stressful time for children moving from Primary to High School.

Parent Council is strongly in favour of the proposed rationalisation to be implemented when the new school building is completed thereby allowing maximum opportunities to interact and form excellent relationships for both school communities and giving current and future pupils, parents, teachers and stakeholders of a new school the time to plan all aspects of the rationalisation.

3.8 Parent Council of Cumbernauld Primary School

1. General consensus is that although not an ideal situation the proposed merger does make sense as it is not practical to run 2 schools at half capacity.

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2. The biggest concern is over the timescale of the proposed merger and would need assurances that there is absolute minimum disruption. If the merger does go ahead it must be managed properly and cannot be rushed.

3. In many cases previous mergers have resulted in pupils moving into a new build meaning a fresh start for everyone. The initial merger will be difficult enough but would result in further upheaval while the new building is being constructed.

4. Many parents have concerns regarding children currently in primary 7 and having to cope with the extra issues of a school merger in their transition year.

5. Concerns over class sizes and the standard of teaching and discipline. Concern that this may drop as a result of the merger.

There has been a lot of talk about rivalries between both schools and need to make sure that children are not disadvantaged by this.

6.

7. Questions on whether the schools are at the same stage in the curriculum for excellence process. Some parents very concerned about this as children are due to be starting their new examinations.

8. Questions asked about whether or not children would be kept in the same classes or will they be mixed up making it difficult for both teachers and pupils if at different stag es/levels .

9. Questions asked on some transitional arrangements in relation to a merged school such as school uniforms, would older children in S5 and S6 be required to change their uniform and a further question asked about the name of the new school and how this would be decided and would associated primary schools have a say in this.

10. Parent Councils make the comment that there is further budget savings options in relation to school transportation which could affect children travelling from further afield.

3.9 Parents of Pupils supported by LCSC in Cumbernauld High School

1. Opposed to the proposed merger. Furthermore, consider lack of expert advice taken prior to the proposal and how it might affect ASN pupils and the lack of adequate advocacy rights given to ASN pupils or their parents to be a material consideration under the Schools Act 2010 and also a statutory infringement of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 legislation.

2. Recognise that North Lanarkshire Council can be lauded for its excellent history in pioneering best practice for children in the autistic spectrum within the LCSC in Cumbernauld High School. In fact North Lanarkshire Council has for a number of years been viewed as having the best practices in Scotland, a model to emulate. The submission also lists other pioneering services provided by the council. The high level of staffing within the LCSC allows for the pupils to have a nominated pupil support teacher.

3. The consequence of the proposed merger will dramatically change class sizes and this is a critical issue for all ASN pupils and parents alike. Believe that a change can have a detrimental effect on the LCSC unit.

4. Believe North Lanarkshire have a statutory obligation in relation to all pupils but that some are exclusive to ASN pupils under educational care which should be discharged under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

5. Concerned that the achievements of North Lanarkshire Council are in potential peril due to the proposals which will lead to a change in school/pupil roll, large class sizes and place the progress of the LCSC in jeopardy. Nowhere during the entire consultation

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6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

process has there been any attempt to seek and find out the views and concerns of any ASN pupils or their parents and North Lanarkshire Council do not have any expertise in merging a school which contains an ASD unit within its curriculum and no expert research into the proposal has been carried out. This suggests this has potential legal repercussions which they have a moral duty to report to the Scottish Government.

Despite having a wealth of experience available in North Lanarkshire Council, no specialist ASN agency or expert was asked to assess the impact of the proposed merger of pupils currently in the LCSC nor were any of their parents asked if they fully understood the potential impact of the merger or were aware of their rights in relation to the proposal.

Submission questions the pre consultation equality impact assessment, particularly in relation to the Don't Know box in relation to protected groups with only don't know box being ticked. Submission would contest that the human rights of parents and pupils in the LCSC have been infringed. Submission suggests that an adequate equality impact assessment has not been done.

Submission suggests that the consultation is illegal under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 in that it fails to seek expert advice on the potential impact of the merger and a failure to check with any of the pupils or parents within the LCSC even understood the implications of the consultation.

Also consider the lack of expert advice to be a material consideration under the Schools Act 2010.

Submission suggests that pupils on the autistic spectrum are highly susceptible to anxiety and depression, leading to higher than the national rate of suicide, do not cope with change well and due to their difficulties with communication, do not exhibit any of the typical warning signs. Furthermore, people with autism or Asperger's Syndrome are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, especially in late adolescence and early adult life. Any proposed change and upheaval proposed by doubling the pupil roll in term 2013/14 will have a dramatic impact on the children. If a new build were to go ahead in around 3 years time they would contest that the LCSC unit should form part of a smaller than proposed new build in order that Cumbernauld High School and North Lanarkshire Council remain true to the existing high standard in ASN pupil integration in education.

Submission states that multi agency professionals assessed all the children currently in LCSC and their abilities to cope were measured against the backdrop of a small school. The coping ability of the children has not been assessed with a potential increasing roll and therefore their suitability to the new educational environment is unknown.

Submission suggests that there is known social tensions between groups from Cumbernauld High School and the Abronhill area and while studies would show that this rivalry would diminish within time, the first few years could have a very damaging impact on many ASN pupils caught up in playground or classroom skirmishes.

Submission suggests that it is far from histrionic to suggest the merger might lead to the suicide of any ASN pupils.

Submission suggests that if any pupil were unable to cope they would require to be moved to residential care, with increased cost.

Until independent experts conduct further research on the real impact during the transitional period of merger for ASN pupils we will oppose the ill-conceived "leap in the dark" merger.

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15. Submission suggests that NLC have failed to both consult and protect ASN pupils about their future education as laid out in statute by the 2004 and 2009 Acts and their submission will be submitted to the Scottish Government seeking a ministerial call-in.

16. Attached to their submission is a letter from a blog from a sufferer of Asperger's Syndrome, a letter from a pupil in S5 of the LCSC unit and a letter from a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has been asked by parents to write in, in order to highlight their concerns regarding their children.

3.10 Staff meeting in Abronhill High School

Listed below are the main issues raised in the staff consultation meeting in Abronhill High School:

1. Concerns from staff regarding how they were informed on the proposed rationalisation proposal. This relates to the fact that the information leaked prior to a decision being taken for a report going to Committee.

2. Concerns from the staff that the letter they were issued mentioned the word closure and not rationalisation.

3. Queries from the staff as to why if education is a national priority would the Council wish to make any savings in education service and if so why would they consider closing a school in the first place.

4. The staff commented on the positive learning and teaching environment in Abronhill High School and associated schools.

5. Concerns were raised over the timescale for amalgamating the school and whether it would not be better to delay until 2016.

6. Staff asked that we guarantee the same opportunities for pupils in an amalgamated school.

7. Staff asked if it had been considered to close Cumbernauld High School and put the pupils into Abronhill High School.

8. The staff mentioned a number of alternative proposals which are included amongst those elsewhere in this paper.

9. Staff asked if a realignment of catchment areas could be done to improve the utilisation of Abronhill High School.

10. Staff raised some concerns about the impact on the school amalgamation on the wider Abronhill community.

1 I. Staff asked a number of questions on the transition process.

In addition to the consultation meeting with staff in Abronhill High School the staff submitted a formal response to the proposal.

1, Unanimous view from staff involved in the response that the preferred option would be to keep the school open. Concern regarding the potential negative impact on the young people of Abronhill and the wider community if the school closes. A view that all of the benefits are skewed towards the community currently served by Cumbernauld High School to the detriment and inconvenience of those from Abronhill. Feel that wider consideration should be given to the potential social and economic impact on the community in Abronhill. Concerns regarding the suitability of the Cumbernauld High School building, particularly in relation to DDA compliance and subject specific concerns (although details are not provided).

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2. Many staff expressed the concern that to allow an extension to the timescale creates other challenges for Abronhill around haemorrhaging of pupils to other establishments and the resultant loss of the opportunity to make use of the strength of the school as a community to move together if the decision to merge were to go ahead.

3. There is a general acceptance that the proposal for a brand new school has potential benefits for pupils in the wider community. However it’s felt that these benefits would have a greater impact were a new school to be built in Abronhill.

4. Widely feel that the implications of the proposals are difficult to predict in some cases and will depend on the final availability of resources at the time of a proposed merger.

5. A number of staff expressed concern that any proposal at a time of traumatic change in the Scottish Education system should be postponed to minimise further potential disruption for pupils.

6. Timescale is considered by many staff to be too tight to provide any real meaningful transition work. Most staff considered there to be serious challenges in developing a coherent curriculum based on the different learning experiences in the two schools currently. A degree of uncertainty among staff regarding how a merger could be done in such a short timescale without significant stress for staff and without a short term negative impact on attainment and learning and teaching.

In addition the following alternative proposals were put forward by staff.

1. The possibility of building a new school in Abronhill.

2. The possibility of using Abronhill High School as a more appropriate merged site during the construction of the new school including the associated reduction in issues with the transportation of pupils by bus.

3. Wait until the new build is ready before merging the schools.

4. Keep both current campuses open and move in pupils from associate Primary School e.g. Abronhill and Carbrain and consider other community organisations that could be accommodated e.g. Library, CLD etc.

3.1 1 Staff meeting in Cumbernauld High School

Listed below are the main issues raised in the Staff Consultation Meeting in Cumbernauld High School:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Questions from staff regarding the timescales on the appointment of promoted posts to an amalgamated school, if this is taken forward.

Concerns on the implementation of the proposal during a period of time when Curriculum for Excellence is continuing to be implemented.

Comments on the timescale for the amalgamation.

Comments on the work that would needed to be carried out to bring 2 school curriculums together.

Comments from staff from other services of the council e.g. environmental services.

Comments on whether the amalgamation and uncertainty may exacerbate placing requests into Greenfaulds High School.

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7. Comments on the wider personnel planning between the two schools and the amalgamated school.

In addition to the consultation meeting with staff in Cumbernauld High School, the staff submitted a formal response to the proposal.

Whilst the staff submission indicates staff are behind the idea of a new build, merged school, the proposal to merge before this new school is ready is seen as detrimental to the quality of education that could be provided. In particular, the response covered the following points:

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

10. 11.

Issues with curriculum structure. New national qualifications implemented for first time in session 201 3/14. Implications of the merger on pupils supported by the language and communication support centre. Primary/secondary transition. Potential lack of PE facilities for a significant length of time. Views expressed by pupils and parents of Abronhill High School. The uniqueness of the proposed merger. Two major disruptions for some pupils rather than just one. Converting Cumbernauld High School to a school that can take around 1 I00 pupils cannot be achieved easily. The physical move. Pupils from Abronhill High travelling to Cumbernauld High.

In summary, they believe that the proposal to merge in August 2013 is seen as extremely difficult to achieve and it makes clear sense to delay any merger until the new build school is ready in 2016, thus allowing staff to ensure that this proposed merger would be an extremely successful one, with all staff committed to it. Furthermore, the staff appreciate that the staff at Abronhill High would want their school to remain as a separate entity and that it is not possible to make the merger happen as quickly as possible. Staff at Cumbernauld High School believe that steps can be taken to ensure that Abronhill High remains vibrant, successful and a very good school as it is just now, whilst allowing proper planning to ensure an extremely successful merger takes place in 2016.

3.12 Pupil Consultation

Consultation with children and young people from the eight schools in the Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School areas affected by the proposed amalgamation.

Children from P4 to P7 and young people from S I to S6 took part in the consultation and around 1900 shared their views. Cooperative learning approaches were used to facilitate group discussions about current strengths in learning experiences; perceived benefits from amalgamation; and concerns about the proposed changes. The following themes emerged from the group discussions, with views listed in order of greatest consensus, to indicate strength of opinion.

1. Perceived benefits of amalgamation

1.1 Children at the primary stages look forward to social benefits, with more new friends, and the chance to work with more teachers. They also look forward to the improved facilities which a new school will bring.

1.2 The prevailing view amongst young people in SI-S4 was that there will be no benefits from this proposal.

1.3 At S5 and S6, the majority saw social benefits in the proposal, with the hope of more cohesion between the two communities over time.

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1.4 With a larger staff, they saw the prospect of an increased range of subjects and/or levels of courses.

1.5 A few recognised financial savings, but this was in stark contrast to the overwhelming view from pupils that the proposal would cost rather than save money.

2. Concerns about the proposed amalgamation

2.1 Travel and transport

By far, the strongest expressions of concern related to travel and transport. At both the primary and secondary stages, and in all groups, children and young people expressed very strong views on the difficulties presented by the greater distances between home and school. They were concerned about longer days; increased costs for their families; uncertainty about whether there would be help with buses; the impact on freedom of choice to attend after school clubs, especially having to walk/get home late, when there are fewer people around, and often in the dark.

2.2 Personal safety

All groups raised this as a major issue.

1.2.1 The paths through The Glen from the Abronhill community to the Cumbernauld HS site are wooded and viewed by all as dangerous. Young people were relieved to hear that the routes to school would be assessed but felt it would be very important to have pupil representatives involved in that assessment.

1.2.2 There is a high level of anxiety about the heightened potential for fighting, bullying and local rivalries to flare up.

1.2.3 There is also concern about the management of large numbers of young people in corridors, playgrounds and the dining hall.

2.3 Impact on learning and personal development

2.3.1

2.3.2

2.3.3

2.3.4

2.3.5

Children at P7 were concerned that the value of the work they have done to prepare for transition would be seriously diminished.

At the secondary stages, there is a high level of anxiety about disruption during the settling in period, and while/if a new school is built - of particular concern to young people studying for National Qualifications.

In addition, there are concerns about differences in curriculum structures between the existing schools and the impact of change, e.g. will year 2 of two-year Higher courses run?

Young people felt uncertain about whether or not courses will be oversubscribed in a larger school community, therefore narrowing rather than widening choice and, possibly, blocking progression in learning.

There was a strong endorsement of the current quality and impact of Personal Support and therefore anxiety about the impact of change, including help with references and UCAS applications in the senior school.

2.4 Impact on relationships and ethos, more widely

2.4.1 Young people in Abronhill HS felt strongly that the relatively small size of Abronhill HS makes its ethos unique: in the quality of relationships, the strong sense of community and shared values.

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2.4.2 There was clear concern among young people in Abronhill HS about the impact on the wider community of removing the high school from the area. Young people were very aware of the related impact on local shops and services, of the potential end of those after-school activities currently provided by Abronhill partners, and of the negative impact on residents (current and new) in that part of Cumbernauld.

Are you in favour of Abronhill High School remaining open? Do you think the closure will have a negative impact on the wider com m unitv?

2.4.3 The strongest concern across all groups in Cumbernauld HS was about the negative ethos which an amalgamated school would face. Young people identified problems with overcrowding, traffic congestion, the disrupting impact of change: a new school name and uniform, new headteacher, new rules.

Yes No 97.9% 2.1% 98.4% 1.6%

2.4.4 Next, in strength of views among young people in Cumbernauld HS, was a very strong concern about the impact on relationships: changing or losing existing relationships and the time needed to build new ones, with peers and staff.

Do you think the closure would have a negative impact on the education of those studying at Abronhill High School? Do you think the closure would have a negative impact on Abronhill shopping centre?

2.4.5 Young people in both high schools spoke with conviction about the likelihood of problems with fighting and bullying. In a few cases, groups thought that the amalgamation would spark a gang culture.

~ ~~

97.9% 2.1%

98.9% 1 .I%

3.13 Other Council Services

Response from Head of Roads and Transportation

1. In general terms roads and transportation are supportive of joint campuses because of the improved efficiency of transport to the rationalised or joint sites.

2. They would ask that vehicular and pedestrian accesses are separated, that adequate teacher, worker and parent parking and bus and car pick up and drop off provision is provided at the campus.

Response from Head of Facility Support Services

1. The proposal would result in the requirement to redeploy staff and an assessment of service requirements in the new amalgamated schools.

2. Catering provision at Abronhill High School would require reassessment with potential for the installation of cooking equipment and service equipment in other schools.

3.14 Individual Responses from elected officials

Response from Jamie Hepburn MSP

1. Opposed to proposal.

2. Conducted own survey with 384 household responses;

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3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Believes the rationale for proposal does not concern itself with the standard of education provided.

Makes the point that both Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools perform well and further states that other schools perform at a lower standard. These other schools are not threatened with closure.

Makes the point that there is no sign of a downward trend in attainment in both the schools.

Makes the point that having reviewed the attendance and attainment levels at Columba High School and St Patrick's High School in the years prior to and following the merger which formed St Andrew's High School in Coatbridge, that over the past decade all of the highest attainment levels were attained prior to the merger.

From the above points, states the point that it is difficult to conclude that a merger would in itself have a positive impact on the already respectable attainment levels within both schools.

States that there are a number of curriculum differences between the two schools, particularly in the S3 in Abronhill High School where some examinations are set in S3 whereas Cumbernauld High School sets these examinations in S4.

Believes that the consultation document failed to consider this and offers no indication as to how the differences would be resolved.

Believes that the decision to locate the existing Language and Communication Support Centre in Cumbernauld High School was based on the fact that it had a low school roll. Furthermore, believes that if the merger were to go ahead this rationale would be completely undermined and should be viewed as a reason to oppose the proposal.

Believes that the increase of the roll to the Cumbernauld High School by over 400 would completely alter the educational experience of existing Cumbernauld High School pupils and has concerns regarding the affect that the proposal would have on class sizes within the school.

Whilst he does not believe that Cumbernauld has a significant gang culture, does recognise that such concerns exist and must be taken account of in any transitional planning. Furthermore, little detail has been provided as to how it will be ensured that this does not find its way into the school.

Believes that details of how the transitional process would be achieved, should have been viewed as essential information as part of the consultation proposal.

Deeply concerned that the prospect of a new school is being floated as a means to reduce opposition to the proposed closure of Abronhill High School.

Believes that walking routes between Abronhill and Cumbernauld High School are unsuitable for a number of reasons, including lighting, condition of paths, and remoteness from built up areas. Furthermore, as assessments of the routes would lie with the roads and transportation department believes that it appears that any assessment does not form part of this process for Learning and Leisure Services. Furthermore, concerned that the Head of Resources could not confirm that the routes were considered safe at the public consultation meetings. Furthermore, concerned that pupils staying at school after hours for supported study, school clubs etc, would be required to walk these routes later in the evening. Believes this may result in parents withholding permission for their children to attend after-school activities, thereby disadvantaging pupils. Believes that the investment required to bring routes up to an acceptable standard would be significant and has not been factored into the financial information within the consultation document.

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16. States that a large number of residents have expressed a considerable degree of disquiet over the idea that their children are having to walk the routes which they consider inherently dangerous and this in turn would increase the cost for parents, reduce the convenience and contribute to an increase in localised traffic and pressure on drop-off areas for Cumbernauld High School. Believes the consultation document should have covered these points, including plans for drop-off areas and car park facilities at the existing Cumbernauld High School site. Believes these matters would result in a larger cost than projected, necessitating an increase in other areas of council expenditure.

17. Raises concerns regarding the potential closure of Abronhill High School and how it would impact on community activities such as different sports and fitness night classes.

18. Makes the point that maintaining a boarded up Abronhill High School and preventing vandalism would also be considerable and has not been included in the costing in the consultation document.

19. Suggests that the closure of Abronhill High School could have a negative impact on local house prices. Furthermore, concerned that the proposal would have an impact on the local community and on the Abronhill shopping centre.

20. Concerned that other local services such as Abronhill Library would also see a steep decline in use, which in turn could lead to the situation where it would be easy to argue in favour of cutting such a service in the future.

21. Believes that the proposal would damage civic pride and community mindedness and that pupils would no longer be schooled in their local community.

22. Believes the timescale is far too short to allow for adequate preparation within any newly merged school and questions whether a successful transition could be achieved.

In addition, Jamie Hepburn MSP has put forward the following alternative proposals:

Whilst recognising that the schools are not cost effective and the root cost of this is their "significant under utilisation", believes that this situation presents an opportunity and questions why the conclusion to any under utilisation of the school buildings should be the closure of one school and transferring its pupils to the other.

Proposal A

(1) There should be a newly built school on the site of Cumbernauld High School but of a smaller scale.

(2) Abronhill High School should remain located where it is but become a community hub. This might require renovation short of a complete new build to take account of the suggestions below.

(3) Abronhill library and Abronhill community facility should be located within the Abronhill High School area, thereby deeming the current premises for the library and community facility surplus to requirements and realise capital receipts through their sale. Furthermore, by delivering these services from one location there could be scope to reduce overheads involved in delivering these services.

(4) The swimming pool within the school might be better utilised than at present. The council should work with North Lanarkshire Leisure Trust in ensuring that the swimming pool can be made available for exclusive use of the high school during the school day and school term but open to the public at other times. Whilst recognising that this might require some adaptation to the building, believes that this will prove a source of revenue and a valuable community asset. Believes this model could also be adopted at any new build Cumbernauld High School and Greenfaulds High School.

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Believes this proposal is less damaging to local communities and promotes sustainability at the same time as defending the academic achievements of both institutions and allows for the improvements and modernisation to take place without the damaging consequences.

Proposal B

(1) Failing Proposal A, the proposed closure of Abronhill High School and its merger with Cumbernauld High School should be delayed until a new build school is complete for both to move into simultaneously.

(2) This would allow time for a proper programme of transition to be devised and implemented, whilst allowing time to be taken to address the concerns surrounding transport by improving the walking routes between Abronhill and Cumbernauld High School (if this was still the preferred location for any new build school).

(3) Believes that the construction of a purpose built new school being placed before any merger occurs is standard practice elsewhere within the council area and questions why it should be any different for the Cumbernauld communities.

In conclusion, Mr Hepburn would ask the council to reject the proposed closure of Abronhill High School and the merge with Cumbernauld High School in favour of pursuing the course of action detailed in Proposal A of his submission.

Response from Clare Adamson, MSP

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Opposed to the proposal and support local parents in their opposition to the proposals.

Does not consider that the case for educational benefit to present or future pupils has been well made.

The proposal appears to rest on the arguments about costing or funding a possible but far from certain new school.

Concerned that the timescale for the merger is too short and that the impact on Cumbernauld High School, as receiving school, will not be manageable in the period suggested.

Believe the consultation proposal has failed to provide adequate details to parents on how the transition would be managed including the impact on Cumbernauld’s LCSC.

No account has been taken of the impact of Abronhill High School closure on the profile of the local community economy including the local shopping centre.

Concerned about loss of civic pride, community involvement and demoralisation of the community. This could lead to additional costs to the wider council budget over time.

Notes parental and community concerns regarding the proposed walking routes. Furthermore this could disadvantage Abronhill children especially in relation to out of hours activities.

Suggests alternative options should be considered but does not provide any alternative options for consideration.

Response from Councillor Stephen Grant

1. Submission is based on comments from constituents who have contacted Councillor Stephen Grant with regard to this proposed merger.

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

The effect of the merger on the children in the LCSC unit has not been taken into account in the consultation document.

Constituents are clear in their opinion that the closure would have a detrimental impact on the pupils of Abronhill HS.

Constituents have suggested that there is no evidence available to a successful closure and merger of the kind proposed for Abronhill HS and Cumbernauld HS.

Constituents have raised concerns that the council would consider closing a school that is achieving great results, would cause disruption that could cause major setbacks to pupils confidence as well as their education, would consider transferring kids to the existing Cumbernauld HS building and then transfer to another school; yet another disruption, larger class sizes are not conducive to a good education, the costs of transportation will be borne by parents and carers along with the distance of travel being concerning for pupils.

Constituents have raised concern about the impact on the wider community including local businesses, clubs who use Abronhill HS for sports and fitness activities.

Concerns have been expressed that Abronhill HS could be boarded up for a considerable period of time before it is sold and could be attractive to vandalism and other unsavoury purposes.

Impact of closing a High School may prevent families with young children from moving to the area and perhaps moving away to be closer to other High Schools. Furthermore local house prices could be affected with more unemployment and a consequential rise in crime rates.

Some constituents have raised concerns regarding the continuation of additional support needs for children who are well catered for at Abronhill High School in an amalgamated school.

Concerns have been raised about ability of children with mobility issues to walk to Cumbernauld HS.

Constituents have raised concerns regarding the timescale of the proposal and the impact this would have on children at both schools. Ideally the new school should be built first before pupils are moved in and the receiving arrangements must also be made clear. Concerns have been raised regarding the zoning of houses in the community growth areas within Cumbernauld being aligned with Woodlands Primary School which is aligned with Greenfaulds High School.

Many of his constituents are of the opinion that two smaller new builds should be considered to preserve the identities of both schools and it would reduce the impact on the community.

There are concerns about the routes that will be used for children walking to school from the Abronhill area. Abronhill sees itself as a separate community and there are concerns that this proposal would have a devastating effect on the community.

There are concerns about the impact of the proposal on the attainment of pupils involved.

There is some opinion that there is a degree of hostility between the two schools.

In addition Councillor Grant attached a number of documents which he had received as part of the consultation as follows:

0

Document from the Save the Abronhill High School Working Group on behalf of the community of Abronhill a formal community response and alternative proposal

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0

0 copy of a letter with response from the parents of pupils supported by LCSC in

0

copies of letters from Individual constituents

Cumbernauld High School; and copy of the response from Save Abronhill High School Working Group.

Response from Councillor Tom Johnston

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Opposes the proposal.

The proposal will embed an emerging two-tier pattern of educational attainment in SQA subjects in the non denominational sector within the town of Cumbernauld. With the council not having addressed this emerging pattern Greenfaulds High has been achieving higher academic results over the past decade and have been attracting pupils from aspirational, more affluent areas of Cumbernauld East.

The council has created challenges within the catchment of Cumbernauld High and has failed to make Cumbernauld High attractive to many parents who are opting for a parental request out of Cumbernauld High on a considerable scale.

The catchment area of Cumbernauld High contains the second most socially deprived primary and the 1 5th most socially deprived primary in North Lanarkshire. Furthermore the third associated primary for Cumbernauld largely covers the eastern half of council ward 2, the most affluent of the 20 wards in North Lanarkshire. In the current year 60% of the pupils from that primary sought placing requests to Greenfaulds High or opted for Lenzie Academy in East Dunbarton local authority. Whilst there is a legal right for the option of placing request, the council has made no attempt to make Cumbernauld High attractive to this group, with many of these pupils contributing towards increased academic results in Greenfaulds High.

As the Cumbernauld High catchment contains: (a) the data zone of Carbrain East; (b) two out of the total of 10 primary school nurture groups for the whole of North Lanarkshire; (c) a children's home in Cumbernauld Village; (d) 52 out of 444 council run houses for temporary and emergency homelessness; and (e) the challenge of 28 pupils in the language and communication units in Cumbernauld High School, Councillor Johnston suggests that these factors contribute to a situation where 108 pupils from Cumbernauld Primary are now in Greenfaulds High as opposed to Cumbernauld High. In contrast, Cumbernauld High has gained 42 pupils from the Greenfaulds High catchment area.

The proposed amalgamation of Abronhill High with Cumbernauld High will worsen the crisis of the Cumbernauld High catchment area for the following reasons:

a.

b.

C.

d.

e.

f.

There are no proposals to make Cumbernauld High more attractive to pupils who have already opted to go elsewhere.

Pupils within the language and communication unit will find it a challenge due to the extra number of pupils in the amalgamated school.

A number of deprived pupils from the data zone and from the Children's Home will find it a challenge in a bigger school.

There will be a drop in the number of teaching staff in a combined school from those in the separate schools of Cumbernauld High and Abronhill High School, leading to large class sizes.

There will be further staff cuts under the budget savings options under consideration.

Cuts as a result of the UK welfare reforms will worsen the situation in the catchment of Cumbernauld High.

29 24

g*

h.

i.

j.

k.

I .

m

North Lanarkshire Council has long neglected the needs of the Cumbernauld High catchment area.

Two swimming pools will be lost as a result of the savings options.

The larger school will face many challenges in the catchment area.

Believes that the argument that a larger school provides better subject choice is defeated by the fact that there are only a small number of pupils travelling out of Cumbernauld High and Abronhill High schools for consortium arrangements.

Makes the point that 8 out of the 24 secondaries in North Lanarkshire have rolls of less than 700, with a further 4 with less than 744, this making up half of the secondary schools in the authority.

The challenge of GIRFEC will be hard to meet in a large school.

The dangers of emerging east/west two-tier academic split in Cumbernauld town. This compounded by the fact that housing within the community growth area will be zoned to Greenfaulds High School via Woodlands Primary School.

7. Suggests that should the amalgamation go ahead the name Cumbernauld High School should be retained as it advertises the name of the town and retains the education tradition of Cumbernauld having its roots in the Cumbernauld village school opened in 1875, with children from Abronhill previously attending Cumbernauld High School from 1964 to 1978.

8. Despite problems not of its own making, Cumbernauld High is a good, well run school with very good pupils, good parents and staff, but clearly faces challenges outlined above. The council should be aiming to entice pupils from the affluent areas of Ward 2 (East) to the school. This could be done by the creation of a new build school, smaller than Greenfaulds but sufficient for the present catchment area of Cumbernauld High. A future share of the catchment area for affluent new housing in Cumbernauld south would further assist the creation of a more socially equitable catchment area.

In relation to Abronhill High School, Councillor Johnston makes the following points.

1. Over the last 4 years, one pupil in every six zoned to Cumbernauld High has elected to go to Greenfaulds High, with no record of the council attempting to make Cumbernauld High sufficiently attractive to reverse this trend.

2. The proposal is unacceptable because:

Abronhill was designed as a distinct community. The huge attendances at the protest and consultation meetings throughout the consultation demonstrated the depth of community attachment to Abronhill High School. The proposal would lead to a decline in the sense of community in Abronhill. The proposal would seriously damage the viability of Abronhill shopping centre. The walking routes to Cumbernauld High from Abronhill are unsafe, even at its shortest stretch, from Laburnum Road. Children from Cumbernauld village who attend Cumbernauld High School have been granted bus places on the grounds of inappropriate walking routes. This should be the same for children from Abronhill. Abronhill High School could be made viable through the relocation of the community centre and the library and a link with NL Leisure concerning the swimming pool. Similar arrangements are currently being considered by the authority at St Andrew's, Coat bridge. The high school is a community asset at night for sport and leisure facilities. There are different approaches to Curriculum for Excellence organisation at both Cumbernauld High and Abronhill High School.

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(j) A large school will end the prospects of reversing the trend of pupils from Ward 2 (East) opting for Greenfaulds High or Lenzie Academy.

(k) It is wrong to suggest that only an amalgamation offers the hope of a new building on the Cumbernauld High School. Cumbernauld has had virtually no share of North Lanarkshire's school rebuilding programme and Cumbernauld High School was virtually next on the list for a new build.

In addition, Councillor Johnston suggests the following as an alternative option.

1. The council should build two small new schools and maintain the current pupiVteacher ratios in each school.

Response from Councillor Elizabeth lrvine

1. Abronhill is a satellite to the main new town of Cumbernauld and at present has a population which compares to Kilsyth. Previous closure of educational facilities in Abronhill within the Primary and Nursery Sector has badly affected some children and indeed some of these children are at Abronhill High School at present.

2. Opposed to the plans for Abronhill High School as follows:

The school has a high standard of attainment. It is used by other Community Groups and provides the location for Abronhill Gala Day. Is only aware of a small number of pupils in Abronhill High School who have to travel to other schools for specific subjects. Abronhill High School has disabled access. Abronhill High School has a swimming pool which contributes to the health and wellbeing of pupils. This pool should be open to the public offering an income stream to the Council providing choices for healthier lifestyles. Abronhill High School is located in the middle of the Community and is easier for pupils to walk to. The proposed walking route from Abronhill to Cumbernauld High is in a dangerous condition and unsafe for children. Abronhill Library could be relocated to the High School.

3. The children in the LSCS in Cumbernauld High School would be affected by the proposal due to the higher roll that would result.

4. The authority has not undertaken a merger in the timescale currently proposed for Abronhill and Cumbernauld High School.

Alternative Proposal

1. Abronhill High School should be left in place with necessary upgrading and conversion to a Community hub.

2. Would have no objection to a smaller school being built in the campus of Cumbernauld High School to accommodate the existing pupils at Cumbernauld High and the LSCS facility.

Response from Councillor Patrick Hogg

1. Opposed to the merger/amalgamation.

2. Sees no financial justification in the proposal to merge a school on pecuniary grounds.

3. Would have a detrimental effect on educational standards for pupils from both Cumbernauld and Abronhill High Schools citing a report from the Hays Group as background information.

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4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Supports the rebuild of Cumbernauld High School.

Questions the timescale for the merger.

Questions the lack of investment in the building fabric of Cumbernauld High School since 2001 and whether it is fit for a 21” century education.

Concern over long lasting damage to Abronhill community if the school were to close.

Belief that Abronhill High School has been deliberately run down with a view to eventual closure.

Belief that the educational benefits statement contravenes the 2010 Act as he believes it is loaded too much to that of a new school.

Believes the consultation was legally incompetent and will be referring this to Scottish Ministers.

Concerned over the impact of doubling the roll on the LSCS unit, based in Cumbernauld High School.

Concerned over the equality impact assessment.

In addition Councillor Patrick Hogg has put forward the following alternative proposals:

1. Move local library, community centre and all community education services into the existing Abronhill High School.

Promote Abronhill High School to “Gregory’s Girl” tourists.

Rebuild Cumbernauld High School but to a smaller capacity figure and incorporate a local primary school into the campus with improved sporting facilities.

If it is not feasible to relocate all community education services to Abronhill High School consider reallocating the CLDkommunity education service into Cumbernauld High School.

2.

3.

4.

Response from Councillor William Goldie

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Opposed to the proposal as it is not in the best interest of pupils, staff or parents connected to either Abronhill HS or Cumbernauld HS. In addition believes that the removal of Abronhill HS will have a devastating effect on the Abronhill Community.

Believes that the education at the other secondary schools in Cumbernauld will also be affected due to the high number of placing requests which could be anticipated for August 201 3 for Greenfaulds HS.

Believes that no educational benefit has been presented as the basis upon which the proposal has been advanced.

As Abronhill HS currently sets examinations in S3 but Cumbernauld HS sets these examinations in S4 believes there are a number of important curricular differences between the two schools.

Believes that the Language and Communication Support Centres good work would be considerably undermined by the substantial increase in the number of pupils attending the Cumbernauld High School building. Furthermore believes this would have a detrimental effect on the current and future education of pupils in the unit. Believes that the addition of over 450 new pupils would completely alter the educational experience for pupils currently

32 27

attending Cumbernauld High School. Also has concerns regarding the effect this would have on class sizes.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Believes the timescale is too tight and suggests that it has never been attempted before in such a short timescale. Furthermore suggests that great concern has been expressed around the existing tensions between groups of young people existing on a territorial basis and this is likely to be carried into the merged school.

Believes the transition process would be an incredible stressful time for many pupils, parents and staff.

Coupled with the proposals from officers that there should be changes to free bus travel the Abronhill closure would further increase the number of pupils affected by these changes.

Believes the walking routes are unsuitable for a number of reasons including inadequate lighting, underfoot conditions of the paths and remoteness of the route from built-up areas. Furthermore suggests that there is a particular concern for pupils engaged in after school activities. Suggests that due to the walking routes parents would withhold permission from their children to attend activities with a resultant potential for children missing out on the numerous and varied benefits such activities offer.

Suggests that investment required to bring routes up to an acceptable standard would be cons id era ble.

Suggests that concerns over walking routes would increase the number of transport applications and the number of pupils being driven to school with a resultant cost to parents, increased time pressures and contribution to an increase in localised traffic on the drop-off areas. Furthermore, makes the point that no plans regarding expansion or adaptation of drop-off areas at Cumbernauld HS are detailed in the consultation document.

Suggests that the car park at Cumbernauld HS is already well utilised and often at or near full capacity and there will be an increase in carbon emissions as a result of more traffic.

Believes that the points that he has raised raises serious questions on the argument that a merger would be more cost effective. Suggests that the costs of improving walking routes, maintaining the standards and the larger than predicted increase in the demand for transportation will all contribute to a greater cost than projected necessitating in an increase in other areas of council expenditure.

Raises concerns about the impact that the proposal would have on the wider community as Abronhill HS currently provides a number of services to local community outwith its functions as a school such as sport and fitness night classes.

Suggests that the costs of preventing vandalism maintaining a boarded up high school has not been included in the costing in the consultation document.

Suggests that the closure of Abronhill HS could have a negative effect on local house prices and a detrimental impact on the local shopping centre.

In addition Councillor William Goldie has offered the following alternative solutions:

1. There should be a newly built school on the site of Cumbernauld HS, but of a smaller scale to the one suggested, to deal with the current needs of the High School on that site. Would suggest that Abronhill HS remains located where it is but becomes a Community Hub, with the school at its heart and encompassing other local services. This may require renovation short of a complete new build.

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3.1 5 Response from Other Organisations

Response from Community of Abronhill

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Give advance notice of their intent to request a ministerial call-in immediately following councillors' decision in January 2013 to close Abronhill High School and to pursue to judicial review if necessary.

Many concerns about the way evidence was presented in the consultation document. It has been written with an in-built bias towards the closure of Abronhill High School.

Question the overall legality of the consultation process, for example the equality impact assessment which was done pre consultation.

The community believe there are 9 points (undated) in which a ministerial call-in can be requested.

Abronhill High School has always been a satellite town with its own identity.

The community have evidence based concerns that educational standards would not be maintained if the merger went ahead.

Concerns that the school closure would result in a major decline socially and economically in the middle part of Abronhill and believe the council has a responsibility to them as tax payers to provide quality education and manage public owned resources in their community.

The closure of Abronhill High School would be inconsistent with policy statements of the council and to suggest such a closure would suggest a dereliction of duty towards local tax payers.

In relation to the central role of Abronhill High School in the community of Abronhill:

Many shops rely on term time revenue.

Many families choose to live in Abronhill because the facilities are within walking distance and many may not move into the area should the closure go ,ahead. Furthermore this would almost certainly result in the decline in the value of housing, with subsequent degeneration of the community.

The school facilities and grounds are utilised after hours for a number of sports, leisure and recreation activities. These facilities are superior to the facilities at Cumbernauld High School.

The school grounds are utilised for the local gala day and fundraising events.

The creative arts department in the school has been very successful and their performances held in the school throughout the year are well attended by the community.

Many concerns by the community regarding the safety of their children on the isolated paths through dense woodland to Cumbernauld High School.

Believe that the proposals will result in a drop in educational standards for their children, at least for the duration of the transitional period which would be at least 3 years. Even post new build there is incontrovertible evidence from Hays Group that "over half of the school mergers studied resulted in sustained decline in standards or performance of students" .w. h a w roup. Co. u Weducat ion.

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11.

12.

Believe that tools required to avert such a decline are not evident within the consultation document or the education benefit statements, nor are they assured that the additional resources needed for the transitional phase are part of educational benefits or within the proposal.

Wish to maintain Abronhill High School to maintain the high educational standards achieved by pupils and staff. Furthermore, believe there is evidence to suggest a merger which involves a language and communication learning centre would cause problems amongst these pupils in their progression and integration within the mainstream curriculum.

In addition, the submission suggests the following alternative proposals:

1. Abronhill High School should be maintained, with any future refurbishment assessed as and when required. The group believe refurbishment is considerably cheaper than a new build.

2. The education service should investigate the possible integration of one or more Abronhill council based service to be housed within Abronhill High School, eg the existing Abronhill library, the existing community centre, and an examination of other local services that sit within a cultural and educational framework should be examined as possible candidates for inclusion within the campus. All CLD and all community educational services be relocated from Muirfield Centre to Abronhill Campus.

3. This should also include an office to promote Gregory's Girl tourists with opportunities to generate income from the fame of the school, with the possibility of a national female football trophy named after Gregory's Girl, given that it was the first Scottish based film to feature a female actor playing football. Various signs could be erected in other locations around Cumbernauld to show the film's heritage with the potential for local employment and to help change negative images of Cumbernauld town.

4. Whilst it is for the service and the Cumbernauld High School catchment parents and pupils to decide, would suggest that a functional utility based redesign of the campus at Cumbernauld High School is overdue and the opportunity of a new smaller build school would allow this to bring Cumbernauld High School into the 2Ist century.

5. The service could give consideration to the possibility of relocating CLDkommunity education service housed at the Muirfield Centre, Brown Road, into the Cumbernauld High School campus.

6. Overall their preference would be a smaller new build for Cumbernauld High School, providing added value for the community and community planning, not pecuniary annual savings. This perspective has shaped their proposals equally in a balanced view towards the best for each community where a variety of savings would incur were their proposals to be implemented by NLC Education Service.

No doubt that Cumbernauld High School requires a new build and not asking for a new build for Abronhill High School but merely that it is kept as it is at the moment and if any refurbishment is required in the future, that it is done when it is deemed necessary.

Response from Save Abronhill High School Working Group

1. Would contend that the council have not fulfilled their obligations set out in the 201 0 Act or the statutory guidance issued under Section 19.

2. Suggest that the commencement of a tandem build project would be neither cost effective nor of benefit to the wider community and as such oppose the proposed rationalisation.

3. State that Abronhill has always been a satellite town with its own identity.

35 30

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Believe the proposal is inconsistent with the council's corporate plan and statements by councillors that schools should be "facilities to benefit the entire community".

Submission asserts that it will actually cost more to implement this proposed rationalisation than to rectify the problems raised.

In preparing their submission it has been informed by extremely well attended community meetings, social media forums and a series of community action events.

The working group suggests that they have found numerous misnomers and potentially falsified claims within the consultation document which could result in legal proceedings being implemented due to the level of generalisation and misinformation.

Submission suggests that the condition of Abronhill High School (graded B) is an indefensible reason for the proposed closure and the Learning and Leisure service have erroneously used an earlier upgrading of C which was either not current or the grading was achieved without inspection and in breach of the consultation process.

Modernisation programme of investment rather than decommissioning would produce a financial return for North Lanarkshire.

Whilst the group state that the rationale of the schools not being cost-effective appears to be correct, they suggest that Cumbernauld High School would require over f l m to be spent on major issues relating to the structure and with the €300,000 of costs associated with the proposed rationalisation, all potential savings during the initial 3 year period are negated.

The group believe that the two point rationale runs counter to the education benefit statements from the 2010 Act statutory guidance.

The group suggest that the proposed rationalisation is saving money in delivering a funding stream for and as yet unplanned school take precedence over the educational benefit statement.

Group suggest that the statement that smaller schools have little room for manoeuvre in forming classes does not take account of the detrimental impact full capacity classes have on learners and suggest that a smaller pupil/teacher ratio is undoubtedly more conducive to offering in class teacher support. The group offer a number of quotes from Scottish Government documents.

In relation to the question of more choice for pupils, group state that Abronhill High School compares favourably in breadth of subjects to other schools in Cumbernauld, with Greenfaulds High School offering only a small increase in subject choice and there is equal movement between the 3 schools at senior level. The argument that there will be more choice for amalgamated pupils of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School, is not supported by current data and the delivery of advance courses of study will remain an area where councils need to adopt a flexible approach and use all of their available resources.

In relation to pupils with additional support needs, the group make the point that Abronhill High School has effective inclusion of pupils with additional support plans with minimum support from the authority as regards ASN assistants (1 fte) and there have been several instances in the past where the school was able to accept placing requests from pupils with particular physical difficulties due to the disabled access available in Abronhill High School. There is no area within the school that is inaccessible to wheelchair users. Furthermore, there is detailed information in the group's submission regarding the LCSC unit which is very similar to the submission from the parents of pupils supported by LCSC in Cumbernauld High School whose submission they support in its entirety and have attached as an appendix to their own submission.

36 31

16.

17

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

Submission states that children are fully committed to the Abronhill High School establishment and its location. If the proposal were to go ahead the pupils would undoubtedly be dispersed to a variety of schools and never feel that personal attachment to their education establishment again; this is particularly so as most pupils feel they have not been taken seriously during this consultation process. Abronhill High School has been commended on its ethos and good teaching and peer relationships by HMle and a good ethos is not something that can be lifted and taken elsewhere, otherwise every school in the country would have one. It has taken a long time to develop and relocation would have a negative effect on this aspect of children's school life. Submission suggests that being part of a community is something that the pupils may not have the chance to experience again.

Submission questions the service's proven track record in successful school realignments as stated in the consultation document. Submission states that there has been no similar rationalisations in such a short space of time, with the timescale for this proposal being unprecedented and research indicates that school rationalisation brings about huge risks as to whether or not there will be any educational benefits. Submission makes reference to the Hay Group report and quotes that there was a 68% drop in performance in secondary schools and that those whose performance dipped, 51% did not recover. Submission suggests that pupils from each school would be seriously compromised by a merger, particularly in relation to educational standards, and the requirements of Cumbernauld High School additional support would be affected detrimentally which runs directly against the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 201 0.

Submission goes on to state that Abronhill High School has consistently performed better than average in North Lanarkshire schools in terms of national qualifications and has the highest percentage of positive leaver destinations within North Lanarkshire and the proposal would be directly responsible for the deterioration in these standards.

Submission states that the current 1" years at Abronhill High School were the first pupils to leave Whitelees Primary School since its recent excellent inspection report and it is disappointing that after having such a good educational experience so far, they will be crammed into a fit to burst older school which is "not fit for purpose".

Submission states that the consultation document can only be described as a "cut and paste" vision of what pupils could expect in a new build, many of the things included in it already provided in Abronhill High School. Submission then details some areas of wider achievement for pupils in Abronhill High School and concludes that Abronhill High School is already enhancing the delivery of the modern curriculum.

Submission details some of the PE facilities which are included at Abronhill High School and these should be highly valued.

The submission states that as Cumbernauld High School does not have a lift, it leaves little to no consideration for pupils with walking impairments, injuries or wheelchair users to fully access the curriculum.

Submission suggests that a larger staff team does not automatically mean better quality and as there has been no assessment as to whether the teachers of Cumbernauld High School have any more expertise than the teachers currently at Abronhill High School, then it cannot be assumed.

The submission states that the allocation of teaching staff being amended to reflect the combined roll in accordance with roll related staffing standards does not address staffing issues relating to the transition years for those pupils in S3-S6, the consultation document does not address specifically pupils' educational and guidance needs or address the fact that at least two models of curriculum are currently implemented in S3-S6 requiring larger support in terms of staffing. The submission states that the consultation document does not support some statements made at consultation meetings.

37 32

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

The submission states that use of the current transport policy for the purpose of the consultation document is misleading as this is currently being put forward as an option within the council's budget savings proposals and that there is no alternative recognised in available public transport service that is routed via Cumbernauld High School from all the areas within Abronhill and Whitelees.

The submission suggests that there has been no proper thought placed on the safety of the walking routes from Abronhill to Cumbernauld High School. It would suggest walking routes are unsafe which would require additional resource, offsetting proposed savings.

Submission suggests that public transport rush hour services could potentially be over-run by children attempting to go the short hop to school and deny seats to people relying on services to get to their place of work. At the end of school day there could be a potentially dangerous situation with several hundred children waiting for buses beside a busy main road. This would not increase satisfaction with public transport, as quoted in The Way Ahead document. Furthermore, there would be a cost to parents which many parents could not afford, thereby having to put their children at risk walking through pathways which are generally deemed to be unsafe.

The group suggest that there would be an increased impact of 19 tons of CO2 emissions as a result of increased car use.

Group have questioned the pre-consultation equality impact assessment and state that it appears to undermine a great deal of factual evidence, namely that a large number of Cumbernauld residents have rigorously objected to this proposal, hoping that their right to participate in the consultation process offered by their council will emphasise the need to support a vibrant community from within rather than remove its core services. Group suggest that the equality impact assessment advocates a cut and paste approach to the benefits of a brand new school. There is no reference to any specific group potentially being affected. As such the equality impact assessment does not put forward a consistent and believable argument for the proposal.

Group then go on to make the point on the contribution that the school makes is of great value to the community, many shops rely on the term time revenue to sustain them. Without this many could close. Many families choose to live in Abronhill because facilities are within walking distance and many may not move into the area when facilities are closed, the school facilities and grounds are utilised after hours for sports, leisure and recreation facilities and the school grounds are utilised for the local gala day which contributes to raising funds for local causes such as the community play park. The group then state that Abronhill High School has been developing their creative arts department and there are many well attended performances in the school and community events held throughout the year.

Group suggest that rights of parents and pupils in the LCSC have been infringed by the lack of qualitative consultation and an adequate equality impact assessment has not been done.

Group remain unconvinced that pupils from Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will in any way benefit from the proposed merger and future new build school and are particularly uneasy that there has been a complete disregard for the welfare of young people.

Group believe that we are disabusing children of the right to a safe and supportive environment where achievement is the norm and it is unlikely any child will benefit from moving into an older, crowded and less equipped school and this is a high risk strategy not only for every school aged child but the wider community for many years to come.

Group gives comments on school rolls and capacities and suggests that elements of the community growth areas should be zoned to Abronhill High School catchment rather than Greenfaulds High School catchment.

38 33

The group suggest that it is almost certain that the projected financial savings represent a significant overestimate of the cost savings and that a full and proper economic impact analysis should be completed as a matter of urgency. The group believe that the costs associated with any backlog of maintenance and major issues at Cumbernauld High School would negate any possible revenue savings during the initial 3 year period of the proposed rationalisation but do say that their source material is unconfirmed.

The group have conducted a survey which indicates that there would be a minimum of €105,000 lost in revenue to local shops. A potential cost to each pupil for lunch snack at break and bus to and from school would be a minimum of €17.50 per week or €682.50 per year.

The group state that as the proposal forms part of a range of savings options in the council's budget savings consultation, that this should allow revenue savings to be found from elsewhere in the overall savings options.

In conclusion the group conclude that North Lanarkshire Council would be well advised to avoid going ahead with the closure and make the following points as particularly salient:

The education benefit statement being only based on the advantage of a "considered" new build hence is completely irrelevant to this consultation.

A full impact assessment on the current school population and future projected rolls has not been conducted.

In respect of equality assessment very little work had been done which is a direct breach of the Equality Act 2010.

An absence of expert educational advice leading to the lack of advocacy rights given to ASN pupils and their parents is a statutory infringement of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

The proposed revenue savings have failed to publicly examine any viable alternatives to the closure of Abronhill High School and until this is carried out there is a high risk of rationalisation costing more than any other alternative, both socially and fiscally.

The level of NLC cuts outlined in The Way Ahead document are higher than that of substantially larger council, for example Glasgow City Council. Predicted cuts are therefore far in excess of the cuts required and are a direct consequence of NLC's decision to convert savings to capital budget.

A full analysis of impact on surrounding businesses has not been conducted even though the proposed rationalisation will have a quantifiably detrimental impact on the wider Abronhill community.

To conclude, the proposal is a drive to fulfil existing financial commitments and does not reconcile with North Lanarkshire Council's corporate plan, nor statements from councillors that schools should be facilities to benefit entire communities. The working group are entirely opposed to the proposal. The rationalisation of two exemplary secondary education facilities without proper recourse to government policies which have been set in place to protect the educational and social welfare of children raises serious questions relating to the proper governance of north area schools provision. Additional issues relating to the lack of analysis of the financial impact of local businesses and residential property also underscore the apparent disregard North Lanarkshire Council has of how communities are structured within their jurisdiction and the importance of strengthening these communities.

In addition, the working group have submitted a 'Viable alternative proposals" document which is detailed below:

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1. Submission has been prepared for the purpose of illustrating viable alternatives to school closure which would both benefit the community of Abronhill and contribute to the desired outcomes of the North Lanarkshire Council’s Community Plan.

Pupil Roll 400 401 - 800 801 - 1200 1200+

2. Abronhill is a discreet self-contained entity with its own identity and resources with sense of place and identity which has been affected in recent years through loss of primary provision, nursery provision and 3 small community buildings due to previous council cuts. Abronhill High School is an essential part of this community and people have chosen to reside in Abronhill as the nature of the town compliments objectives of the North Lanarkshire Council Community Plan. To maintain this, existing facilities that benefit Abronhill Community and safeguard our environment must remain.

M2 13 f 1900 12 f 1900 11 f 1900 10 f 1900

All in Construction Cost per square metre

3. To remove Abronhill High School from the Community would have a catastrophic impact on local residents and would be directly opposed to the vision within the Council’s Community Plan.

0 Many local businesses and shops would be in danger of closing. Many of the population of young families and the elderly would not have the ability or resource to regularly travel to Cumbernauld Town Centre to access resources. Health and wellbeing of the community would suffer irreversible damage.

0 Many families choose to live in Abronhill because of facilities and many may not move into the area due the lack of facilities should the closure go ahead. This would impact on the value of housing and a subsequent degeneration of the Community in limiting life chances of residents.

0 There are many concerned within the community regarding the safety of their children on isolated paths through the dense woodland to Cumbernauld High School.

Abronhill High is geographically, economically, socially and educationally central to the corn m u nity .

4. The working group have linked their submission into the three strategic priorities for the Learning and Leisure Services estate as agreed by this Committee in June 2012:

0 Strategic Priority 1 : There should be an improvement in occupancykapacity ratios (known as building utilisation);

0 Strategic Priority 2: We should be increasing the number of schools rated as A or B for both condition and suitability; and

0 Strategic Priority 3: Any strategy should work towards reducing the overall council carbon footprint;

5. In making their submission the Working Group have made reference to the metric used by the Scottish Futures Trust, as contained in a report to this Committee in June 2012, when determining funding for grant levels for new school builds .

SFT Metrics

(It should be noted that SFT metrics are for funding allocation only. It should also be noted that SFT would not be part funding this proposal)

In addition a number of alternative options are proposed by the Group.

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Option 1.1: Construct a smaller new build Cumbernauld High School with a capacity of 700 pupils and use the difference between the cost of an amalgamated school to carry out an element of refurbishment on Abronhill High School. This would include relocating Public Library into the local Community Centre and constructing an extension to link existing Community Centre to existing PE Block, thereby creating a community access point to community facilities. Extended outwith school hours would create an income stream (not quantified) and use of equipment and materials to reduce utility consumption (not quantified).

Option 1.2: New build Cumbernauld High School for 700 pupils and new build Abronhill High School for 500 pupils. In addition incorporate full accessibility to library, theatre, technical areas, art and design and areas for community use along with the suggested areas of reconfiguration in 1 .I above.

Option 2.1: Reconfigure all High Schools in Cumbernauld, with no rezoning, with design capacities as follows:

Abronhill High School 550 pupils Cumbernauld High School 800 pupils Greenfaulds High School 1200 pupils

Option 2.2: As option 2.1 , but rezone across the town to give equal capacities of 850 in each school.

Option 3: Create 3-18 campuses for both Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School.

Further detail on each of these options is included in Appendix 3 to this paper.

Response from Abronhill Regeneration Forum

1, Opposed to the proposal.

2. Suggest that the location of Abronhill High School provides many benefits to the local community including the advantage of young people having strong links with their community being enormous with reductions in anti-social behaviour.

3. Abronhill is a well defined geographical area surrounded by woods and open land. Removing its High School would take its heart out educationally, socially, and physically.

4. Concerned about extra pupils on the way to school through a rural pathway.

5. Proposal would jeopardise education of children currently at Abronhill High School which gives them the best leaver destinations in North Lanarkshire and the second best results overall.

6. Proposal would remove parental choice as it reduces secondary education provision to two sites.

7. Very concerned about the short term plans for Abronhill High School which could become the focus of fire raising and vandalism. Suggest that this will be expensive to secure and will remain very vulnerable.

In addition the forum suggests two alternative options

1. Move the provision of the local Library Service into the School; and

2. Progress a rationalisation that allows the under utilised Primary Schools, Abronhill Primary School and Kildrum Primary School, being accommodated in the High School thus

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providing the Council with the opportunity to save the maintenance on two schools and realise capital by disposing of two sites in the centre of residential areas.

Response from Abronhill Learning Trust

1. Object to the proposal.

2. Feel the proposal will take the heart out of the Community, impact on house prices and makes the points that other local educational facilities have been taken from Abronhill.

In addition the Abronhill Learning Trust suggests the following alternative option:

1. Construct a new build campus within the Abronhiil High School curtilage.

Response from EIS North Lanarkshire Local Association

1. Feel that timescale for rationalisation is unrealistic.

2. Believe that proposal is presented for financial rather than educational reasons.

3. Implementation of Curriculum for Excellence will be disrupted by the proposal.

4. Difficulty with adopting a common curriculum structure for August 201 3.

5. As any new build would not be in place until 2016, at the earliest, suggest that if it were to happen, should be delayed until new build school is in place.

6. Question the Educational Benefits Statement that a larger school would provide greater flexibility in pupil groupings and provide more choice for pupils. Believe that pupils in both schools are not currently missing out on opportunities to study certain subjects or follow subject progression.

7. Believe that smaller schools can have smaller class sizes for the benefit of pupils.

8. Suggest that a larger school would be disorientating and distressing for pupils within the LLSC.

9. Health & safety concerns - whether there would be sufficient car parking for a larger school on the Cumbernauld High School site and would this require car parking to be taken from existing outdoor PE provision.

10. Concern over the longer term impact of outdoor PE provision whilst a new build school were to be constructed within the Cumbernauld High School curtilage and for the immediate future thereafter.

11. Concern over the timescale for creating a strong school ethos.

Response from Strathclyde Police

I . Aware of local concerns and feelings regarding the proposed merger.

2. Do not subscribe to Cumbernauld being recognised as a town with a gang issue. Nevertheless, accept concerns need to be addressed.

3. From experience, suggest that initial frictions when schools are merged are usually overcome quickly.

4. Have offered to consider providing a recognised school police liaison officer to work closely with the school and as a conduit with community policing colleagues within the catchment area.

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5. Support the realisation of a new build school and the benefits that such a multi-functional facility would bring.

Response from Cumbernauld Village Community Council

1. Should the amalgamation of the schools be agreed the timescales given are completely unrealistic. This would likely to be disruptive to the transition of primary 7 to first year with educational research and practice demonstrating that such transitions must be carefully managed. Furthermore submission suggests that pupils from Abronhill High School would not know where they are going until late in the day and this would pose an unacceptable education risk.

2. Community Council concerned that the closure of the school would have a highly negative environmental and social impact on the community of Abronhill. Having had previous experience of being left with a defunct, sometimes vandalised building, Community Council believes this is extremely demoralising and disempowering.

3. If the proposal were to go ahead Community Council would urge North Lanarkshire Council to have a strategy for managing and redeploying the building, working with the local Community.

Response from Kildrum Community Council

1. Response is to express concerns of residents of Kildrum on the proposal.

2. Primary concern is for education of the children and hope that the council exercise its full expertise to integrate the existing systems and procedures of each school to avoid detrimental impact if the amalgamation were to take place.

3. Travel to and from Abronhill would mean using difficult footpaths especially during period of poor weather which would be longer, sometimes lonely and more fearful. In addition there would be an increase in the volume of traffic. Local disruption in relation to an increased number of pupils travelling through Kildrum to visit local schools, subsequent increase in litter and casual damage and fear of disturbances between rival gangs. Concern over timescale of the proposal.

In addition Kildrum Community Council make the following points:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Surely the situation is special enough to provide free bus passes meantime between Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools.

Lay-bys should be provided at the main entrance to Cumbernauld High School and this should be completed before the commencement of 201 3/14 school session.

New attractive facilities in the school to encourage the pupils to take lunch within school boundaries.

Prohibit pupils from leaving school at lunchtime.

Provide adequate extra supervision on routes to and from town centre and local shops.

Response from Residents of Sheltered Housing at Larch Grove

1. If the proposal goes ahead there will be an ongoing effect on the area particularly in relation to shops and residents would have difficulty getting to other shops due to age and disabilities.

2. There is the safety factor of pupils walking on the paths and bush areas along with crossing roads to get to the Cumbernauld High School site.

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3. The residents have heard that even if the new school does not do a subject pupils will have to go to another school for that subject.

4. Residents (letter signed by 7 residents) are opposed to the proposal.

In addition the residents suggest the following alternative proposal

1. Relocate Whitelees Primary School into Abronhill High School to facilitate the usage of space.

Response from Andy Locke, Secretary, Scottish Socialist Party, Cumbernauldl Kilsyth Branch

1. Opposed to the closure of Abronhill High School. Furthermore, opposed to all proposed cuts to public services as proposed by NLC.

2. Comments that the current economic crisis was not created by public servants but by banks and financial institutions. Suggests solution is end of tax evasion and avoidance by the rich.

3. Council should be ashamed of its proposed cuts and should support STUC “There is a Better Way” campaign.

3.16 Public Meetings. As detailed in paragraph 3.1 above two public meetings were held on 24‘h and 251‘~ October 2012 with approximately 550 people attending the public meeting in the 24‘h October 201 2 and 150 people attending the meeting on 25‘h October 201 2.

Listed below are the main issues raised in the Public Meeting in Abronhill High School:

1. Safety of walking routes from Abronhill catchment to Cumbernauld High School. 2. Ability to accommodate all pupils in the current Cumbernauld High School Building. 3. Impact of potential housing in Community Growth areas. 4. Concern on the future school build construction within Cumbernauld HS curtilage. 5. Concern that the Council had already made decision to close Abronhill High School. 6. Concern over accuracy of financial figures. 7. Concern over the impact of the loss of Abronhill High School to the wider community e.g.

shops, house prices etc. 8. Proposal not consistent with Council Corporate Plan. 9. Area rivalry and pupil safety. 10. Could large school cope with children who have additional support needs? 11. Why not close Cumbernauld High School? 12. Concern over the timescale of merging the schools. 13. Impact on school whilst implementing Curriculum for Excellence, pupil attainment and

continuity of courses. 14. Disbelief that a new school would be provided.

Listed below are the main issues raised in the Public Meeting in Cumbernauld High School:

1.

2.

3. 4.

5.

6.

There was a number of queries regarding the decision making process particularly the political element of this. Impact of amalgamation of 2 schools on the Language and Communication Centre in Cumbernauld High School. Concern over the timescale of merging the schools. Concern over the challenges regarding building a new school within the Cumbernauld High School curtilage whilst all school children were being accommodated in one school. Impact on schools while implementing Curriculum for Excellence, pupil attainment and continuity of courses . Concern over the ability to plan successfully for the transition process.

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7. Concern over class sizes. 8. Concerns over the cumulative impact of potential cuts on pupil's education. 9. Concern over whether the commitment to deliver a new school was real or not. 10. Concern over potential job loses as a result of the amalgamation. 11. Concerns over whether Greenfaulds High School could accommodate more placing

requests. 12. Concern over the transition process. 13. Why does the Council not delay the process for a period of time? 14. Concern that the Council had already made its decision.

At the public meeting held in Abronhill High School on 24th October 2012 officers were asked to confirm the correct suitability rating for Abronhill High School. They confirmed that this has a rating of C as per table 1 attached to paragraph 2.1 of the consultation document. They also advised that the rationale for the proposed amalgamation of both schools was as follows:

1. The current schools are not cost effective but are significantly underutilised. The rationalisation will bring savings which can be either reinvested or helped minimise savings in Learning & Leisure Services and other Council Services; and

2. It will provide the best opportunity for a new build school in the future to be adequately funded.

At no point does the rationale state that the condition or the suitability of the building is a factor in the proposal being put forward.

On a separate report taken to Committee on the review of roll projections within the North Area Committee boundaries the suitability rating for Abronhill High School had been erroneously identified as B. It can be confirmed that the correct suitability rating was included in the consultative document and this can be backed up by a review of submitted core fact data for the school estate, (condition, suitability and utilisation) which is collected by the Scottish Government on an annual basis.

3.17 Facebook Campaign and Petitions

It is known that a number of facebook campaigns were activated since September 2012 e.g. Save Abronhill High School Working Group, Save Abronhill High School and SOS Abronhill High School.

In addition 2 petitions were received as part of the consultation exercise. The first petition which had 5,853 signatures was against the proposed rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School and was presented on behalf of the community of Cumbernauld and beyond to the Head of Resources on lgth November 2012. The second petition headed up " I won't send my child to Cumbernauld High School if Abronhill High School is closed'' with 60 signatures was e-mailed to the consultation e-mail address on 20th November 201 2.

4. RESPONSE TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED

4.1 This section summarises issues raised in the consultation and the response from the service to each. The responses were overwhelmingly against the proposal and can be classified under the following headings. These are listed below and discussed in paragraphs 4.3 - 4.9.

4.2 The issues raised can be grouped into the following categories. Each one is summarised in the subsequent paragraphs and the response from the service is added in each case.

1. Financial Issues 2. Suitability/Condition of the two school buildings 3. Loss of local school and impact on the Community 4. Issues to do with the quality of educational provision 5. Timescale for the proposal 6. Walking Routesflravel to School 7. Transitional Arrangements

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4.3 Financial Issues

Some of the responses considered that the savings shown in the Committee Paper were not accurate and did not justify the proposal. The validity of the projected savings was challenged.

The proposed amalgamation would make a very significant contribution to the council’s overall saving strategy and would improve the current position where there is a large number of empty places in both schools. There is currently overprovision in Cumbernauld non-denominational secondary schools, with 1293 surplus places across the 3 local non-denominational high schools (as at September 201 2 census date). Table 1 , which was included in the consultative document, provides an analysis of the revenue savings and costs during the initial 3 year period of the proposal, along with the capital costs associated with the proposed budget implications.

Annual Annual Annual Net Saving cost Saving f f f

Revenue Contribution Employee Costs Existing staffing at Abronhill High School Estimated additional staff costs in receiving schools

Property Costs School property budget Estimated maintenance costs funded centrally On-going Costs: 50% Rates

School Devolved Budgets

Transport Costs Option 1: All pupils to Cumbernauld High School

1 Year Net Revenue Saving

Estimated Preparation in receiving school

Required Preparation Works:- (i) Refurbishment of Toilet Areas (ii) Remodelling of car park (iii) Curriculum adaptations

One off spend associated with closing school

2,078,815 1,413,862 664,953

482,597

62,524 420,073

45,909 45,909

30,000 (30,000)

2,607,321 1,506,386 1,100,935 1,100,935

- --

A bron h il I E f

Cum bernau Id

100,000 50,000 50,000

(i) Boarding up costs 67,000

There is a backlog of maintenance requirements in both schools, which as both schools are condition B, would be seen as less of a priority to condition C/D schools. However potential savings from the amalgamation can contribute significantly to funding a new build school.

The savings strategy agreed by the Council gives high priority to the protection of frontline services including school budgets. The amalgamation of education provision both reduces the number of empty places and mitigates the detrimental impact on other aspects of learning and teaching across the authority. If the saving options associated with this amalgamation proposal are not delivered it may be necessary to identify other options. These options could include a further reduction in teaching posts or in per capita budgets for books and teaching resources.

As described earlier in this report the wider strategic context for the amalgamation proposal is the requirement to make the school estate more efficient by reducing the large number of empty places across the estate and secondly to make financial savings as part of the current budget strategy. These reflect the responsibility on all authorities to secure an efficient provision of school education and best value in the delivery of services along with the growing

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pressure on all public services to reduce spending. The amalgamation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will reduce the level of surplus places in the Cumbernauld non-denominational Secondary sector and release annual revenue savings in the region of €1 . I m. The wider benefit to the North Lanarkshire Education Community is that the amalgamation reduces the need to make cuts in other Services. As part of the service’s submission for savings in the 2013/2016 revenue budget, Learning & Leisure Services has proposed the review of the school estate as a savings option. Should this proposal not proceed, alternative savings may be required. This could include a significant reduction in classroom budgets and teacher posts which would impact on a larger number of schools.

4.4 Suitability/Condition of the two school buildings

Many responses argued that the present school buildings can deliver a good standard of education and meet the needs of the modern curriculum, with recent HMle reports referenced as sources of evidence.

The service agrees that the provision of education at both Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School is of a high standard, and that both schools make very good use of the available facilities. In addition it should be noted that neither the condition nor the suitability of the buildings form part of the rationale put forward as part of the proposal.

A few submissions questioned the suitability rating attributable to Abronhill High School. It should be noted that the suitability rating is based on an assessment carried out by head teachers in the past and that these assessments covered all the main elements of the building. The A-D grading for suitability in relation to NLC school estate properties takes account of this assessment and of the criteria laid down in the Government’s guidelines on School Estate. The limited work carried out in both the schools since the suitability assessments were carried out has not been sufficient to amend the ratings given.

A number of submissions have suggested that Cumbernauld High School would be less suitable for pupils with additional support needs. Should the proposal go ahead the service would carry out individual assessments, in line with current practice, for any pupils with additional support needs. All pupils with additional support needs transferring to Cumbernauld High School would have an Additional Support Plan or a Co-ordinated Support Plan in line with Additional Support Needs legislation and North Lanarkshire’s Inclusion Policy. Planning to meet these needs would be a key action during transitional planning to ensure consistency and continuity in learning.

4.5 Loss of Local School and Impact on the Community

Many responses stressed the importance of Abronhill High School to the local community. They also highlighted that currently children within the catchment can walk to the school.

The service acknowledges the important role that Abronhill High School has in the community and that Cumbernauld High School is more distant for pupils.

The service also accepts that the school makes a wider contribution to health, fitness and wellbeing activities in the area. An assessment carried out of the lets in the school has established that for each current let there are at least two alternative locations which can be made available to those seeking a let in the local area, and therefore it is possible to maintain the current provision for the community.

Despite the advantages of the proposed amalgamation to the wider community of North Lanarkshire, the responses of the Abronhill community to the consultation are almost unanimously against the proposal. These focus on many issues including the loss of a good school, possible disruption to educational attainment and continuity, concerns over walking routes and significant concerns of the impact generally on the community of Abronhill, including the impact on local businesses. The service does not in any way underestimate the community’s concerns, which are clearly heartfelt and are worthy of very serious consideration. It believes, however, that the difficulties raised are not of themselves sufficient to counter the

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benefits of the proposed amalgamation. The service is committed to working with the community and with other partners across the Council to ensure that should this proposal be accepted, any potential detriment to the community is minimised.

Abronhill HS Cumbernauld HS

4.6 issues to do with the quality of educational provision

33.3 (8) 35.4 (8) 26 (18) 47.1 (2) 27.1 (17)

25.9 (17) 34.9 (9) 32.1 (14) 26 (17) 32.4 (1 1)

A number of responses from pupils, staff and parents raised concerns that the proposed amalgamation would have an adverse impact on young people’s education. These covered a range of important issues in relation to how well young people would be supported to learn and achieve, the quality of their learning experiences, the extent to which their learning needs would be met in a bigger school, and the potential for disruption to the curriculum in the short term, particularly since curricular structures are changing as we move towards full implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, and Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School are currently at different stages of development. Discussion of issues raised follows below under the broad themes identified:

Abronhill HS

Cumbernauld HS

I. Attainment, achievement and attendance

Although a number of respondees reflected the view that an amalgamation of Abronhill HS and Cumbernauld HS would be likely to lead to a decline in attainment and achievement for Abronhill HS pupils, performance measures from recent years suggest that attainment, achievement and other outcome-focused performance indicators in these schools are broadly comparable. Figures below from the past five years show the percentage of S4, S5 and S6 cohorts respectively achieving 5 or more awards at Creditlintermediate 2; 3 or more awards at Higher level and 5 or more awards at Higher level. The ranking of each of the schools out of 24 NLC secondary schools is shown in brackets after each percentage figure.

12.5 (17) 20.4 (10) 27.3 (4) 16.7 (17) 30.9 (4)

19.7 (8) 13.9 (19) 20.9 (12) 22.6 (10) 19.2 (16)

S4 - 5 or more awards at CREDITANTERMEDIATE 2 I SQA Exam Diet I 2008% I 2009% 12010% I2011 % 12012%

SQA Exam Diet

Abronhill HS

Cumbernauld HS

2008 % 2009 % 2010 Y O 2011 % 2012 %

11.7 (17) 14.4 (14) 18.3 (12) 29.3 (3) 17.7 (18)

13.3 (1 3) 20.5 (5) 14.8 (16) 15.5 (14) 18.9 (16)

S5 - 3 or more awards at HIGHER LEVEL I SQA Exam Diet 1 2008% I 2009% 12010% 1 2011 % I 2012 Y O

Abronhill HS

Cumbernauld HS

200812009 % 200912010 % 201012011 % 201112012 %

90.9 (8tn) 89.7 (1 2‘n) 89.3 (I3ln) 91.8 (7‘n)

91.9 (4‘”) 90.9 (6tn) 90.4 (gtn) 91.7 (8‘n)

Both schools have an excellent track record in encouraging wider achievement and community involvement and we have every reason to be confident that young people would have more rather than fewer opportunities to develop a wide range of skills within a new, larger school community.

If the amalgamation of the two schools goes ahead, pupils will continue to be taught by staff from the predecessor schools: there is no reason to suppose that the quality of education will

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suffer. Indeed, although overall results from the two schools are comparable, each school has different strengths in terms of SQA examination performance. In bringing together these different areas of expertise there is strong potential for improving standards overall.

2.

Responses from pupils and parents reflected a high degree of appreciation for the quality of education provided and the strong sense of community engendered by both schools. The proposed amalgamation has raised fears that with a larger school roll and potentially larger class sizes, the personal support so valued by pupils and parents would be lost, leading to a negative impact on attainment.

Class sizes and school rolls

It is inevitable that as with any transition, it will take time for staff and pupils to get to know one another and for a new sense of community to be built. The service is confident however that building on the strengths of both schools, this would be done quickly and effectively, with the minimum of disruption to learning. While class sizes may increase in some subjects, depending on curricular choices and timetabling constraints, it is equally likely that class sizes may fall where, for example, it is possible to provide single level rather than bi-level teaching because of the larger school roll. Attainment is influenced by a wide range of factors such as the quality of school leadership, the deployment and expertise of staff, and the effectiveness of learning and teaching. There would be a staffing enhancement to support the transition process.

The service is confident that should the proposal be accepted, the transfer to a larger school will bring significant benefits to pupils once the transition process is completed. A larger student base allows for greater flexibility in forming class groupings to meet learners’ needs. An extended staff team offers the potential for the sharing of expertise and a wider range of specialisms to offer learners in terms of curricular areas, interdisciplinary learning and wider achievement and accreditation. More subjects, for example, can be offered at Advanced Higher level, and learners would benefit from a wider range of out of school hours learning opportunities. A larger management team similarly offers the potential for a greater range of expertise to be brought to the task of supporting and challenging staff to provide the best possible learning experiences for young people.

Examples of where pupils may benefit from an increased range of subject choices include Modern Languages, where Abronhill currently offers French and Spanish, while Cumbernauld offers French and German. In a new school, French, German and Spanish would be offered as the main languages, with a potential range of other options, for example Mandarin or Italian, because the larger pupil cohort would enable staff with these specialisms to be employed. Within other subjects, additional specialisms might be offered. For example, this year Cumbernauld HS is offering Media Studies as an option, and this could be offered to all young people.

In addition to opportunities presented within the formal curriculum, both schools already offer a range of accredited awards in relation to personal and wider achievement. When brought together, programmes in place to support and encourage wider achievement at each of the schools could enhance existing opportunities for pupils currently attending the other. For example, Cumbernauld High has a well established ASDAN programme, and Abronhill High has strong Sports Leader Awards and Duke of Edinburgh Silver Awards programmes already in place.

Similarly, the wide range of out of school hours learning offered by each of the schools gives an indication of the rich tapestry of provision which could be on offer in a larger, amalgamated school. Examples of clubs or societies which currently run in one school but not in the other include netball, handball, trampolining, table tennis, music choir, music samba band, music brass group, music soul band, rock band, art animation, film club, drama, debating society and news group.

3. Continuity of curricular Drovision

A number of concerns have been raised about the potential disruption to the continuity of learning for young people, especially in the light of the Curriculum for Excellence and changes

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to national qualifications. Particular concerns have been raised in respect of learners supported by the LCSC in Cumbernauld High School.

As mentioned above, young people in Abronhill HS and Cumbernauld HS are currently at different stages in progressing towards full implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, with the current S3 cohort operating a different curricular structure for this year only. While it will be possible in other years to fully integrate classes where learners are following similar programmes and courses, young people entering S4 in August 2013 would require to be timetabled separately in some curricular areas, to ensure continuity and progression. This partial twin-tracking for S4 only would require to be in place for one year only, and the school would be staffed accordingly to ensure continuity of subject presentation.

Work would be carried out in the existing Cumbernauld HS to ensure that facilities are upgraded to accommodate additional class groups, and the service is confident that there are sufficient learning and teaching areas to meet the needs of young people and staff. Careful attention would be paid to sign-posting and to managing how pupils move around the school in order to ensure a calm, orderly and purposeful learning environment. Clearly, although the proposed new school building would not be available immediately, the state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities made available at that point would bring further additional benefits for learners and staff alike.

Transition programmes are already in place for children in P7 in all the associated primaries who will be transferring to high school in August 2013. While there are implications for wider sharing of information, it is not envisaged that this would present any particular additional difficulties in the event of amalgamation taking place. Across the school, programmes would be in place to ensure that young people are able to get to know one another and quickly form new friendships. While fears have been expressed by young people that existing rivalries between communities may pose a threat, local police have confirmed that any existing tensions are minimal. The service endorses the excellent track record of both schools in ensuring the welfare and safety of young people at all times and is confident that management and staff would work effectively to counter any problems should they arise.

The service acknowledges that changing schools is an unsettling experience for some young people. It also appreciates that staff in secondary schools generally are feeling under pressure as they work to develop new courses and programmes for national qualifications, and does not minimise the effort which would be required to make the transition to a new school. We are committed to working with management and staff in both schools to ensure that in the event of amalgamation taking place, the transition is managed as smoothly as possible. Staffing would be enhanced to support a transition phase to cover additional classes and also to allow for staff to plan and work together. The service has a proven track record in managing school amalgamations in such a way as to minimise any potential adverse impacts on pupils, staff and parents.

Concerns in relation to young people supported by the LCSC relate to the risk that the successful integration of young people into the mainstream curriculum in Cumbernauld HS may be disrupted by an influx of new students from Abronhill HS. Parents feel that larger class sizes, more crowded stairways and a cohort of new students who may not understand or respect the needs of LCSC students may lead to young people not being able to cope in mainstream classes, with potentially serious individual consequences. They allege that students and parents have not been properly consulted.

The service acknowledges the concerns of parents, and is very cognisant of the need to manage the transition process in such a way that young people supported by the LCSC receive all the support they require in order to adjust to the new situation, should the amalgamation go ahead. We have every confidence in the expertise and ability of staff currently employed within the LCSC to support the young people through this transition, and would work along with the management and staff of both schools to ensure that the needs of this group of students were prioritised. Work would be undertaken with students in both schools to ensure that all young people attending the new amalgamated school understand about the additional needs of LCSC students.

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The service does have a proven track record in bringing schools together and, in particular, of re-establishing provision for young people with ASN within other large secondary schools. The process would be closely and continuously monitored and a formal report made available to parents and the Learning & Leisure Services Committee would be prepared as we moved forward.

4.7 Timescale for the Proposal

A number of the responses to the consultation have suggested that the timescale for the amalgamation is unrealistic and too ambitious with some suggesting that it should be delayed until a new school is provided in 2016 and others suggesting it should not happen in the first place.

Whilst acknowledging that a considerable amount of planning and additional work would require to take place prior to an amalgamation of two schools, the service believes that delaying the move could extend the disruption and stress associated with an amalgamation. Prospective parents might have concerns about the quality of education provision in the interim year and this would make placing requests to other schools more likely. The focus on developing courses and programmes in relation to Curriculum for Excellence and other school improvements might be difficult to sustain in the face of a prolonged amalgamation process. It is inevitable that staff would feel unsettled because of concerns about longer term employment and some might apply for posts in other schools, again resulting in disruption to learning and teaching and a lowering of morale across the school community.

The service believes that the better strategy is for an amalgamation to be completed in the shortest time period and to be carefully managed. However, the decision needs to be considered thoughtfully. This would ensure that any disruption to young people’s education would be minimised. It is suggested that the flitting from the 2 schools to an amalgamated school would be assisted by 2 days’ school closure allowing staff to become familiar with the building, and with how the curriculum would be delivered prior to pupils attending the school. The amalgamated school would be assisted throughout by members of the authority’s Quality Improvement Service, who would work within subject disciplines and across the school to assist with the transition. The service has extensive experience in managing a transfer to new buildings and in all cases pupils have settled into their new environment with a minimum of disruption to the pace and progression of learning. It is also considered that it would be better for the pupils to be well established in an. amalgamated school prior to both schools moving to a new building.

A final consideration when considering a delayed amalgamation is that the budget savings would not be achieved in 2013114 and alternatives may require to be found which would have a detrimental impact on learning and teaching. It is also worth noting that as part of the Council’s financial strategy revenue savings are required for a continuation of investment in new school builds.

4.8 Walking Routes

During the consultation many respondents raised concerns about the assessment of walking routes for pupils travelling on foot to school and about the distance pupils would need to walk. Consultation responses highlighted particular areas of concern including from Redwood Road to Cumbernauld High School and also through the Glen, along past Redburn School to Cumbernauld High School. Learning and Leisure Services requested that three particular sections of the routes were assessed by the Roads and Transportation Service;

Route 1: Redwood Road area walking down to the footbridge leading to the Kildrum Plantation, along to the entrance to Cumbernauld High School at the existing playfields.

Route 2: Redwood Road area, continuing along the path running parallel to Forrest Road and across the footbridge alongside the B8054, and then along to the entrance of the school at the B8054 side.

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Route 3: Across the Glen and past Redburn School and alongside Kildrum Road.

Whilst all routes passed the assessment, in relation to distance transport provision, Learning and Leisure Services are required to identify a preferred route. The service has identified Route 1 as the preferred route

Routes are assessed by Road and Transportation against criteria set by North Lanarkshire Council based on national guidance. Factors that are taken into account when considering whether a walking route is appropriate are road width, traffic volume, visibility, the ability for pedestrians to be able to step clear of roadways, and firm surfaces and path widths.

Under the current transport policy, a significant number of children from the Whitelees catchment would receive transportation on distance entitlement. However, the service has also put forward an option to consider moving to the statutory requirement for free transport in the secondary sector, which would be pupils living 3 miles away from their zoned school, bringing North Lanarkshire Council in line with many other local authorities. If a decision is taken to amend the current policy, the whole of the Abronhill catchment, including the majority of the Whitelees estate, would not receive free distance entitlement transport. There may, however, be a small number of pupils who live beyond the 3 mile distance who would be entitled to this.

4.9 Transitional Arrangements

As in previous school or nursery amalgamations, the service would commit itself to developing and supporting a comprehensive transition plan to support the effective transfer of pupils to the new amalgamated school. This would include the aligning of existing outcomes within Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School’s school improvement plans, facilitating the engagement of staff in working together to align courses and programmes of study, and offering any assistance required in timetabling and other arrangements necessary to bring the two schools together.

Arrangements would be made for the effective transfer and sharing of appropriate information relating to learning and achievement, and to the pastoral needs of pupils, with a particular focus on young people with additional support needs, including learners supported by the LCSC. All staff would be involved in this process, which would be led by the headteacher, depute heads and heads of departmentlfaculty, with assistance from the Quality Improvement Service.

Prior to, during and after the projected move, arrangements would be put in place for a range of transition activities to allow pupils, staff and parents to get to know one another, and to develop a joint vision for the new school. Officers within the Quality Improvement Service with responsibility of parent and pupil council matters would support and promote the integration between the parent and pupil councils of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School and would offer assistance in developing a new and distinctive identity for the school. This would include, for example, designing a new school uniform and new badge, deciding what the new school should be called, and consulting on aims, values and priorities.

Support and monitoring of this range of activities would be carried out by the appropriate Quality Improvement Officer and Quality Improvement Manager for both schools involved assisted by subject specialist colleagues. One year after amalgamation, a progress report would be submitted to both the Head of Education Quality and Development and to the parent councils of the receiving schools. The service would conduct a transitional review visit focusing on the impact on the progress and achievement of the young people, and seeking the views of pupils, staff and parents. A formal report on the processes and procedures used in managing the amalgamation of the pupils from Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School would be submitted to the Learning & Leisure Services Committee within one year.

To facilitate successful transfer of pupils to the amalgamated school an additional 2.5fte teaching staff would be allocated for the period of at least one academic session and an additional support staff allowance of 100hrs would be provided by the service for a similar period of time.

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5.

5.1

5.2

5.3

Finally, all staff affected by the amalgamation proposal within Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School would be fully supported by the careful and fair application of the range of council policies available. Additionally, officers from within Learning & Leisure Services Personnel and the Quality Improvement Services would be tasked with addressing the professional and personal needs of individuals.

ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS

Throughout the consultation process via the public meetings and written correspondence a number of alternative proposals have been mentioned and some formally put forward to the service to consider. In relation to the 2010 Act the Service only requires to give special regard to alternative proposals in relation to rural schools. However, we have chosen to respond to the number of proposals presented to us. This section summarises the alternative proposals and provides an assessment of each.

In considering the alternative proposals put forward, commentary will be provided on the following areas:

1) How they address the three strategic priorities for developing a sustainable estate as approved by the Learning & Leisure Services Committee in June 2012, as follows;

Strategic Priority 1 : There should be an improvement in occupancykapacity ratios (known as building utilisation);

Strategic Priority 2: We should be increasing the number of schools rated as A or B for both condition and suitability; and

Strategic Priority 3: Any strategy should work towards reducing the overall council carbon footprint

2) The proposals will also be assessed against the two objectives set down in the original consultation document as follows;

Objective 1 : The current schools are not cost effective with significant underutilisation. The rationalisation will bring savings which can be either reinvested or help to minimise savings in Learning and Leisure Services and other Council services; and

Objective 2: It will provide the best opportunity for a new build school in the future to be adequately funded.

3) An assessment will be made of the capital and revenue implications relevant to the alternative proposal being considered.

4) Views are expressed against the original proposal of rationalising Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School.

Alternative proposals put forward as a result of the consultation process can be summarised as follows:

I, 2.

3. 4. 5.

6.

Delay the proposal until a new school is built for 2016 Carry out an element of refurbishment of Abronhill High School and build a smaller new Cumbernauld High School Build two new smaller secondary schools Reconfigure the three non-denominational secondary schools in Cumbernauld Retain both secondary schools and move associated primary schools into both buildings, creating a 3-18 campus on each site Refurbish Abronhill High School and relocate other Council services into the building to form a community hub; improve swimming pool to generate additional revenue

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7. Construct a new Greenfaulds High School as a larger school and rezone Cumbernauld High School to Greenfaulds and Abronhill High Schools and close Cumbernauld High School Build the new amalgamated school on the Abronhill site Use of Abronhill High School as the merger site during the construction of the new school

8. 9. 10. Other Proposals

Each of these proposals will be assessed in turn against the three strategic priorities and the two objectives of the consultation, as detailed above.

1. Delay the proposal until a new school is built for 2016

This proposal would achieve the three strategic priorities, albeit over a longer timeframe, if the proposal to delay to 2016 were to be accepted. However acceptance of this proposal would put additional pressure on the revenue budget in the intervening three financial years and it would be difficult to fund the capital spend without having accrued the revenue expenditure savings to achieve this. In relation to Objective 2 of the initial rationale, construction costs of the new build would have to be met without the contribution of revenue savings towards the overall funding package.

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

2. Carry out an element of refurbishment of Abronhill High School and build a smaller Cumbernauld High School

Whilst this proposal would contribute towards the three strategic priorities through the new build of a smaller school in the Cumbernauld High School site, the contribution of the proposed refurbishment of Abronhill High School to the priorities would be limited in scope. Abronhill High School would still be significantly under-utilised. In relation to capital implications, the costs would be similar to the original proposal but the Council would not be able to achieve the significant revenue savings required, since two separate management structures and staffing formulas would continue to be needed in each of the schools. It is also considered that the balance of capital funding available (circa f9m) would not be sufficient to carry out a substantial refurbishment of Abronhill High School.

Capital Cost of original proDosal for a meraed new school build:

Cost of building a new combined school for 1200 pupils: 1200 x 11 x 1900 = f25. lm

Capital Cost of this proposal:

Cost of rebuilding Cumbernauld HS for 700 pupils: Balance to refurbish Abronhill HS

700 x 12 x 1900 = f16.0m f 9 . lm

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

3. Build two new smaller schools of (a) 700 capacity for Cumbernauld High School and (b) 500 capacity for Abronhill High School

For the purpose of this assessment a 700 capacity Cumbernauld High School and a 500 capacity Abronhill High School has been used.

Against the 3 strategic priorities, this proposal would offer significant improvement in occupancy/capacity ratios, would increase the number of schools rated as A or B for both condition and suitability, and would go towards reducing the overall Council carbon footprint. In relation to the objectives presented in the original consultation proposal, while revenue savings could be generated from reductions in energy usage and property maintenance, there would still be two different management and staffing structures, and

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therefore the revenue savings would be significantly less than those offered by the original proposal. Capital implications would be greater, whilst revenue savings generated would be less.

Original DroDosaI for a merged new school build:

Cost of building a new combined school for 1200 pupils: 1200 x 11 x 1900 = f25 . lm

This Droposal:

Cost of rebuilding Cumbernauld HS for 700 pupils: Cost of rebuilding Abronhill HS for 500 pupils:

700 x 12 x 1900 = f16.0m 500 x 12 x 1900 = f11.4m

Total cost of this proposal f27.4m

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

4. Reconfigure the three non-denominational secondary schools in Cumbernauld

Two options were suggested under this proposal; Reconfigure with no rezoning and recon f ig ure with rezoning . Option 4.1 - No rezoning (but construct smaller schools)

Abronhill HS 550 x 12 x 1900 f12.5m Cumbernauld HS 800 x 12 x 1900 f18.2m Greenfaulds HS 1200 x 11 x 1900 f25.1m

2550 capacity f55.8m

When assessing this proposal against the 3 strategic priorities it does well against the 3 strategic priorities in that it achieves them. When assessing against the two objectives in the initial rationale it does well against improving underutilisation across the Cumbernauld non-denominational secondary schools estate but it does not deliver the same level of revenue savings due to the fact that there will be 3 different staffing structures in the 3 schools. Capital implications are higher than the original proposal whilst revenue savings would be considerably less.

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

Option 4.2 - Rezone across the town of Cumbernauld and create 3 non- denominational secondary schools of equal size (i.e.) 3 x 850 capacity

Capital

cost: - 850x 11 x 1900 f17.8m total capacity 2550 f 53.4m

When considering this option against the 3 strategic priorities it does well against the priorities in that it would improve occupancy/capacity ratios, there would be an increase in the number of schools rated as A or B for both condition and suitability and it would contribute to our overall carbon footprint reduction. When considering against the two objectives in the initial rationale behind the original proposal, it would improve the significant under utilisation across the Cumbernauld Secondary Schools Estate but it would not generate significant revenue savings as we would need to have 3 staffing structures in each of the schools. Capital costs are greater than the original proposal and revenue costs potentially could be higher than the current revenue costs in the 3 schools.

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It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

5. Retain both secondary schools and move associated primary schools into both buildings, creating a 3-18 campus on both existing sites

Cumbernauld Campus: Cumbernauld High School, Carbrain Primary School and Kildrum Primary School

Suggested capacity 1200

Abronhill Campus: Abronhill High School, Abronhill Primary School and Whitelees Primary School

Suggested capacity 1100

Capital cost of Joint Campuses

Cumbernauld Campus 1200 x 11 x 1900 f 2 5 . l m Abronhill Campus 1100 x 11 x 1900 f23.0m

€48.1 m

When assessing this option against the 3 strategic priorities it would do well in that it would improve occupancy capacity across a number of schools, it would increase the number of schools rated as A or B for both condition and suitability and it would reduce the overall Council carbon footprint. When assessing the proposal against the two objectives in the initial rationale there would be an improvement in the current position of under utilisation across the estate but it would not achieve the level of savings attributable to the original proposal. Within the secondary schools two management and staffing structures, for example, would require to continue and we would need a separate staffing and management structure for the amalgamated primary schools. In relation to capital implications it would be significantly more than the original proposal while revenue savings would not be of the same magnitude.

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

Similar alternative options to this one were presented e.g. the proposal to construct a 3-18 campus for the Cumbernauld catchment only and to include only one primary school in the project. The assessment of these options would be broadly similar.

6. Refurbish Abronhill High School and relocate other Council services into the building to form a community hub; improve swimming pool to generate additional revenue

Whilst the relocation of the local library and existing community centre would contribute towards Strategic Priorities 1 and 3 (improving building utilisation and reducing the overall council carbon footprint), and the refurbishment of Abronhill High School would contribute to Strategic Priority 2, (improving building condition and suitability) the contribution to each of the three priorities would be less significant than that offered by the original proposal. In terms of Strategic priority 1, for example, a significant element of Abronhill High School would remain underutilised. In addition, this proposal is unlikely to achieve anything like the revenue savings made possible by the amalgamation of the two schools. Whilst it is possible that the capital implications would be less than the original proposal, if a full refurbishment of Abronhill High School were to be carried out, along with the relocation and fit out costs of bringing other facilities into the school, any capital savings would be eroded significantly.

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7.

8.

9.

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

Construct a new Greenfaulds High School as a larger school and rezone Cumbernauld High School to Greenfaulds and Abronhill High Schools and close Cumbernauld High School

This could result in the capacity of Greenfaulds being in the region of 1900 to 2200 pupils which would be a very large school. It would not improve the underutilisation of Abronhill High School unless we rezoned part of the Cumbernauld High School catchment to Abronhill. There would be difficulties constructing a new school in the curtilage of the existing Abronhill High School site. It should also be noted that we are at an advanced stage for the development of a 1500 capacity school project for Greenfaulds High School with 2/3 funding secured from the Scottish Government on a school with a planned capacity of 1500. Design work has also progressed. A revision of this magnitude to the project at this stage would require us to renegotiate the business case with the Scottish Futures Trust.

It is not considered that this proposal offers a better alternative to that originally proposed by the service.

Build the new amalgamated school on the Abronhill site

This proposal addresses the three strategic priorities and the 2 objectives set down in the original consultation document. However the fact that the site at Cumbernauld High School is larger and has better access for transport (although this would need to be further improved as part of a new build at that site) makes the Cumbernauld High School site a more viable alternative. With a larger site (almost double that of Abronhill High School) the existing Cumbernauld High School site will also provide a better opportunity for developing enhanced facilities, eg higher quality athletics provision.

Use of Abronhill High School as the merger site during the construction of the new school

This proposal cannot be progressed, because the Abronhill High School building does not have the capacity to accommodate the combined pupil roll.

10. Other Proposals

In addition a number of other proposals were put forward and are considered below:

Build another floor onto Abronhill High School.

This would not compare well against the three strategic priorities or the objectives set down in the rationale. Technically it would be an extremely difficult project to deliver with significant on-site disruption. A more workable suggestion would have been to extend Abronhill High School for an additional 300 capacity and transferring pupils from Cumbernauld High School.

As Cumbernauld High School already has the capacity to accommodate the combined rolls of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School this proposal is considered far more disruptive and we would not want to spend significant sums on extending Abronhill High School when;

1, We already have a local school that can accommodate the combined roll; and 2. The overall objective is to construct a new school

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Gregory Girl tourist scheme.

The Service does not believe that promoting Abronhill High School to “Gregory’s Girl” tourists would create a significant or sustainable revenue stream and whilst having to pursue significant financial savings elsewhere within the Service do not consider this as a priority area for development.

Make Abronhill High School an integrated secondary.

Allow denominational children to be taught in their own community. In addition there was a suggestion that the Council should consider merging Our Lady‘s High School, Cumbernauld, and St Maurice’s High School, or should consider closing Our Lady’s High School and relocating the children to Cumbernauld High School.

This proposal is not viable. Roman Catholic children have a right to attend a denominational school. Neither Our Lady’s High School or St Maurice’s High School have sufficient capacity to accommodate pupils from both catchments.

Deliver revenue savings elsewhere in the budget.

Response: There was no specific suggestion put forward that would achieve the level of savings in the original proposal.

6. SCHOOL VISITS

6.1 An invitation was sent out to the parent councils of Abronhill High School, Abronhill Primary School, Whitelees Primary School, Cumbernaud High School, Carbrain Primary School, Cumbernauld Primary School, Kildrum Primary School and Ravenswood Primary School to visit a newly constructed high school in Coatbridge. Two of the parent councils took that invitation up, one indicated that they would have taken up but work commitments prevented anyone from coming along, two parent councils did not respond to the invitation and three declined the invitation. The three who declined wished for their position to be noted on the post consultation report as follows:

Parent Council 1 - “It would seem of little value to proceed with your offer any further on the basis it is random and other than the head teacher having previous experience with another authority in this job role, it is clearly falling short in capturing any other requirement under this consultation being considered. I note your comments that this offer is not a requirement under the consultation. I thank you for considering options outside your statutory remit and would ask that your report to committee is reflective of the reason why this offer, made without prejudice by yourself, was subsequently declined”.

Parent Council 2 - “In response to your invitation to visit St Andrew’s High School this is nothing like the 36 week accelerated consultation which you have chosen to give to our children”.

1. Columba High School and St Patrick’s High School amalgamated into the new school known as St Andrew’s High School. These Schools were amalgamated in 2006 but had been previously discussed in 2002 which make 4 years not 36 weeks like ours.

2. Coatbridge High School and Rosehall High School were amalgamated in 2008 and again had been discussed in 2002 which was 6 years again and not 36 weeks like ours.

3. Wishaw High School and Garrion Academy were amalgamated in I982 which was well before the Schools Consultation Act 2010 was in place. As soon as you have a real comparison, I would be delighted to come and see it”.

Parent Council 3 - “As St Andrew’s High School is the school you have deemed to be appropriate, I bring to your attention that the accelerated consultation time imposed upon our children is not reflective of the timescales given to the above mentioned schools. In addition to

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this due to length of time that has past there will be no remaining pupils in the school from the amalgamation to an existing campus therefore the environment we will be visiting will be of a new build fully formed campus”.

Amalgamated School greater flexibility in grouping pupils and learning

0 more subject choices for pupils 0 a wider range of staff skills/expertise 0 more management support

7. ALLEGATIONS OF INACCURACIES

New School advantages of purpose build

0 improved physical conditions for

school ethos

accommodation

staff

It is alleged that there has been inaccuracies or misleading information presented to stakeholders as part of the consultation exercise in the following areas:

1. Suitability Rating of Abronhill High

During the Consultation the Suitability Rating of Abronhill High School which was included as C in the Consultative document was questioned. This was due to a separate report taken to Learning & Leisure Services Committee on the Review of the Roll Projections within the North Area Committee Boundaries where the Suitability Rating for Abronhill High School had been erroneously identified as B. The correct Suitability Rating is included in the Consultation Document and this can be confirmed by documentation submitted to the Scottish Government as part of the Core Fact Data collection exercise on the School Estate.

2. Financial Implications of Proposals

The reliability of the financial information contained within the Consultative Document in paragraph 4.3 was challenged. It is the Services position that the annual savings in a normal year would be f 1,100,935. Furthermore an estimate has been prepared on the capital preparation costs in Cumbernauld High School if the two schools were to amalgamate.

3. Educational Benefits Statement

In addition the Consultative Document contains a section on Transitional Issues which will be planned when creating an amalgamated school.

4. Equality Impact Assessment

During the consultation exercise a number of stakeholders queried the validity of the Equality Impact Assessment. The response to this is contained in Section 10 of this report.

5. Lack of Consultation with pupils in the Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC) and with their parents.

During the consultation process the response from parents of young people in the Language and Communication Support Centre questioned the validity of the consultation with them and their children. This point was raised in a number of other submissions also.

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8.

8.1

8.2

8.3

8.3.1

8.3.2

Pupils from the LCSC were consulted on the proposals along with their peer group, as would be normal practice in Cumbernauld HS. With support from LCSC staff, all except one were able to fully participate in this exercise and did so very ably: only one pupil from the LCSC was not able to take part on the day. The responses summarised in paragraph 3.9 of this report reflect their views along with those of their peers: while concerns about noise levels and potential crowding on the stairs etc were voiced in groups including LCSC pupils, so too were a range of other benefits and concerns which were common across the wider school community. To consult LCSC pupils separately would not have been in keeping with the very successful policy of integration followed by Cumbernauld High School. Similarly parents of LCSC pupils were able to ask questions and voice their concerns at the public meetings and to submit individual responses as part of the broader parent body. It should be noted that in paragraph 3.12 of this paper there is a specific section summarising concerns expressed in relation to the Language and Communication Support Centre.

EDUCATION SCOTLAND STATEMENT

In line with the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, a report was provided by Education Scotland on the educational aspects of the proposed rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School. This report is attached as Appendix 2.

In their report HM Inspectors acknowledge the benefits of the Council's proposal in addressing the under-capacity issues in the school estate and in achieving budget savings. The report takes into consideration not only educational aspects of the proposed amalgamation but also wider aspects, such as the potential impact on the local community of Abronhill. It refers to the significant level of opposition to the proposal to amalgamate the two secondary schools, and summarises the concerns raised.

While many of these concerns have been rehearsed and addressed elsewhere in this report, HM Inspectors emphasised particular issues which they felt required to be further considered and/or clarified. These issues can be summarised as follows, accompanied by the Council's response.

While the educational benefits of the proposed amalgamation were presented in the original proposal, HM Inspectors appeared to view these as pertaining mainly to the new build proposed for 201 6, which they say is not guaranteed.

Response: Should the proposal be accepted, the new build will go ahead. This decision was minuted at a meeting of the Learning and Leisure Services Committee on 1'' October 2012.

Educational benefits for young people attending the existing Cumbernauld High School campus in advance of the new build being ready, require to be clarified. HM Inspectors acknowledge that bringing two schools together would provide greater flexibility in grouping young people, and in widening the range of choices and subject options open to them, particularly at senior stages, but suggest that the range of staff skills that would be available to young people attending an amalgamated school, over and above those they can already access, need to be further specified.

Response: A definitive list of options and choices which can be made available to young people will be drawn up at the point of an amalgamation taking place, if an amalgamation is decided. It should be noted, however, that as specified in the rationale for the proposal, both schools are currently operating at under capacity, and neither school is of a size which enables management and staff to provide the full range of options and experiences which might be regarded as desirable in meeting learners' entitlements, particularly in the senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence, but also in the broad general education, SI-S3.

At this exciting time in Scottish Education, with Curriculum for Excellence mapping out a wider range of learning pathways for young people, the opportunities to shape the staffing structure

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of a new amalgamated school, matching it to the needs of the young people and drawing on the strengths of staff in the two existing schools, would be of major benefit to both cohorts of young people. Harnessing these strengths in a single school should lead to improved attainment across a range of subjects. The benefits of flexibility and choice acknowledged by Education Scotland would in fact apply from the point of an amalgamation, most particularly for pupils in S5 and 6 but also impacting on other year groups. Dovetailing the two timetables would increase the chances of being able to offer pupils a wider range of options within subjects. For example, within PE, there would be a wider range of activities to choose from than can currently be offered in either school. A wider range of subjects could be delivered at Higher level. Currently, there are instances in both schools where small numbers do not permit the timetabling of a Higher section, whereas in a larger school it is more likely that the subject would be viable. Similarly, there would also be the increased possibility of being able to deliver single-level classes within subjects instead of combining, for example, National 5, Higher and/or Advanced Higher students within one section. Additionally, while some consortium arrangements are currently in place, a larger S5/6 cohort would mean that pupils would be less likely to have to travel to other schools to study a range of subjects at Advanced Higher level.

Further examples of how it is anticipated that young people will benefit from a larger amalgamated school in terms of extended curricular choice, wider achievement and accreditation, and out of school hours learning opportunities are outlined in Paragraph 4.6, Section 4 of this report.

8.3.3 HM Inspectors raise issues about the short timescale for the transition, including transition from primary, and are particularly concerned about ensuring a successful transition for young people with additional support needs, and specifically for the welfare of young people in Cumbernauld High School who currently attend the Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC). They advocate taking advice from partner agencies in ensuring that any potential adverse impact is minimised or avoided altogether.

Response Currently, support for young people with additional support needs is a strength in each of the high schools affected. In particular, the support provided by the LCSC is highly regarded by pupils, parents, staff and partner agencies. While not wishing to underestimate the work which will be required to achieve a successful transition in any way, it should be noted that the service already has a team of fully-qualified and experienced staff in this area, and has a strong track record in ensuring a successful transition for such groups. Similarly, both schools have well-established and effective transition programmes in place for young people moving on from the associated primaries. The transition programmes already underway with children progressing from primary education will still be applicable in many respects to an amalgamated school, although additional efforts would be made to ensure that children from each community had the opportunity to get to know each other throughout the period in which the amalgamation was taking place, that information was shared appropriately and that the transition was managed effectively through joint planning processes. Council policy also allows for an enhanced level of staffing to assist with the transition process in the event of an amalgamation taking place.

In respect of young people with additional support needs, advice from psychological services has already been sought as to how to best manage the transition, and this would be very carefully planned and monitored. It should be noted that for young people attending the LCSC, the base and teaching resources would remain the same, as would the range of teaching and specialist support staff currently involved with the young people, including the educational psychologist attached to the school. LCSC staff already have a high level of awareness and skill in planning for and supporting any major change affecting young people, and are also very skilled in picking up and responding to any indicators of stress which pupils may be experiencing. They would be very fully involved in preparing young people attending the LCSC for the changes which amalgamation would bring in terms of the wider context of the school. Integration into mainstream classes is very successfully achieved at present, and the main challenge would relate to ensuring that the young people were able to deal with the increased numbers of pupils occupying, in the first instance, the Cumbernauld High School

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building. Cumbernauld High School pupils and staff understand the needs of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and arrangements would be made to provide ASD support and development training to pupils and staff from Abronhill High, supported by the link educational psychologist. Every advice would be sought from partner agencies to ensure that any adverse impact was avoided or minimised, both within class and during break times in social areas.

8.3.4 The Education Scotland Report raises the issue of pupils’ safety when travelling from Abronhill on foot and suggests the council needs to provide further assurances to parents about how it will ensure young people’s health and safety when travelling either along the main road or along the footpath through a wooded area. They recommend that the Council carries out a full risk assessment of the walking routes and possible alternatives. They also recommend that further consideration be given to ensuring young people’s access to out of school hours clubs and activities in this context.

Response: As covered elsewhere in this report, safety of young people is paramount at all times. The routes have already been assessed and recommendations made. In relation to young people from Abronhill accessing out of school hours clubs and activities, schools across the North Lanarkshire already make arrangements to ensure that pupils who stay some distance away are able to participate in a wide range of school activities along with their peer groups, and similar solutions would be found if the amalgamation were to go ahead. Typically, these include running a number of activities at lunchtime, as already happens in both schools, running transport on particular evenings, making arrangements with parents, or using public transport if an alternative to walking home along the approved route with a group of friends was preferred.

8.3.5 HM Inspectors conclude the report as follows: “In relation to the concerns raised in this report and in the absence of any detailed plans for a new school, HM Inspectors are not confident that the current proposal to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School would ensure immediate educational benefits for children and young people in 2013.”

Response As outlined above, and contingent on the savings achieved by amalgamating the two schools in advance of the new school being ready, the new school build will be delivered. As outlined in this paper, it is the Service’s belief that a significant number of educational benefits do accrue to the larger, amalgamated school envisaged in this proposal, and that these will have a positive impact on young people from the point of amalgamation. In times of financial constraint, the Service sees this proposal as offering the best medium- and long-term educational benefits for both communities and believes that the interim arrangements should be acknowledged as eminently workable, and should be viewed as a necessary staging post in working towards the new school build.

9. PROCEDURES FOR MINISTERIAL CALL-IN

9.1 Since this proposal considers the potential to amalgamate Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High Schools, section 1 O(4) of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 201 0 will apply. At this point it is anticipated that North Lanarkshire Council Learning & Leisure Services Committee will be asked to make a decision at its meeting currently scheduled for 6th February 2013. If Committee were to make a decision to proceed with the amalgamation, Scottish Government must be notified of this decision within six days of that date. Thereafter Scottish Ministers have a six week period commencing on the date of the committee decision, to consider whether they will issue a notice to North Lanarkshire Council to call-in any decision which might be made. In deliberating on whether to implement a call-in of the decision or not, Scottish Ministers are required by the Act “to take account of any relevant representations made to them (by any person) within the first three weeks of that six week period”.

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9.2 Any person wishing to contact the Scottish Ministers should do so through the School Estates Team within the Scottish Government.

sc hoolclosu re ascot land .asi .a ov. u k; or by post

Lucy Carmichael School Infrastructure Unit Area 2-A South Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ

10. EQUALITY CONSIDERATIONS

10.1 A pre consultation equality impact assessment had previously been prepared prior to carrying out the statutory consultation. In terms of impact on communities, the impact was unknown at that stage. As part of the consultation exercise we have received information from consultees on the potential impact on the proposal on local communities. A further Stage 2 impact assessment is currently being prepared which will consider these issues. The post consultation equality impact assessment is likely to be available on the internet at the end of January 201 3.

In considering the equality impact assessment it is important that the following points are taken into account.

0 the equality impact assessment should be proportionate and relevant;

it is more than just thinking about equality;

0 the assessment should be rigorous and must influence the final decision;

0 needs to be based on evidence: and

0 is able to determine that “due regard” was evidenced when the decision is made.

10.2 The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has produced a significant amount of guidance, one entitled “Using the Equality Duties to make Fair Financial Decisions - A Guide for Decision Makers”. It is important to acknowledge this guidance recognises that, in order to make reductions in public spending, organisations such as North Lanarkshire Council may be required to make difficult decisions.

The EHRC recognises that; “The equalities duties do not prevent you from making difficult decisions such as reorganisations and relocations, redundancies, and service reductions. Nor do they stop you from making decisions which may affect one group more than another. What the equalities duties do is enable you to demonstrate that you are making financial decisions in a fair, transparent and accountable way, considering the needs and rights of different members of your community. This is achieved through assessing the impact that changes the policies, procedures and practices could have on different equality groups.

Assessing the impact of proposed changes to policies, procedures and practices is not just something the law requires, it is a positive opportunity for you as public authority leaders to ensure you make better decisions based on robust evidence”

10.3 In carrying out an equality impact assessment it is important to recognise that the assessment of impact should be considered an onaoina, end to end process, from early discussions right through to the final decision about whether to go ahead with a policy or service change bevond, to monitor the actual impact of imdementation. In completing the post consultation equality impact assessment the following processes are involved:

0 the consideration of relevant submissions from the consultation exercise; and

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0 more importantly as part of the ongoing process further consultation will be carried out with staff, pupils, parents and the wider community if we move towards amalgamating both schools.

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List of Appendices

Appendix 1 :

Appendix 2: Education Scotland Report

Original Consultation Report

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Appendix 1

NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

REPORT

To: Learning & Leisure Services Committee Subject:

Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School

Ref: JMcWLE

Summary of the Proposal

In summary, the proposal is that Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School be rationalised onto one campus. In the interim the school would be decanted to the Cumbernauld High School campus with the option to construct a new school on the Cumbernauld High School site in the future. This is known as a tandem build project.

Recommendations

The Learning and Leisure Services Committee is recommended:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

to approve formal consultation based on the proposals that, at the end of school session 2012/13, the provision of education at Abronhill High School be discontinued, or the provision of education at Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School be discontinued and a new school be established, and that all pupils in attendance at both the current Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will thereafter be provided with education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises.

to approve for formal consultation that at the start of the school session in August 2013 all primary school pupils who under the present arrangements would have transferred to Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will be provided with secondary education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises.

to support the consideration of a new build school to replace the existing Cumbernauld High School as an early priority in the next phase of the Schools and Centres 21 programme.

to approve that the consultative document attached to this report be issued and made available to all interested parties.

to approve that all interested parties be invited to make written representation to the Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School Rationalisation, Learning & Leisure Services, Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, by no later than 20th November 201 2. Alternatively comments can be submitted by e-mail to abcumconsultation@northlan.qov.uk. These views will be taken into account by the Learning and Leisure Services Committee in deciding on the proposals.

to request that the head of resources submit a report on the responses to the consultation to a future meeting of the Learning and Leisure Services Committee.

Members wishing further information please contact: James McKinstry, Head of Resources, on 01236 812269, or Christine Pollock, Executive Director of Learning & Leisure Services, on 01 236 81 2336.

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NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL : LEARNING & LEISURE SERVICES

Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools

Report by the Head of Resources

BACKGROUND

A proposed consultation paper on the proposal to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools onto one campus is attached to this report. In the longer term it would be intended to construct a new school to serve the combined catchments on the Cumbernauld High School site as a tandem build project.

There are 2 main reasons for the proposed rationalisation:

(1) The current schools are not cost effective with significant underutilisation. The rationalisation will bring savings which can be either reinvested or help to minimise savings in Learning and Leisure and other council services.

(2) It will provide the best opportunity to invest in a new build school in the future to be adequately funded.

Our Estate Management Plan highlights various challenges which require attention. These include the large number of empty school places, the poor condition of the estate and the need to continue with a modernisation programme. Rationalisation of the school estate is considered an important part in delivering this strategy.

The acute financial difficulties facing local authorities reinforces the need to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of all council services, including school provision.

CONSULTATION PROCEDURES

The current requirements for consulting on proposed school closures are set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 201 0.

In summary the salient requirements for this consultation are:

(1) Consultation with a wider range of interests. (2) A longer consultation period, at least 6 weeks compared to the old framework of 28 days. (3) The inclusion of an educational benefits statement in the consultation document. (4) A statement from Education Scotland on the educational aspects of each consultation

proposal. (5) An appropriate response by the council to any issues raised in the consultation process. (6) A report on the consultation to be published at least three weeks before a final decision is

taken by the Council on the proposal. (7) Notification to the Scottish Ministers of a decision to close or amalgamate a school. Any

closure cannot be implemented until 6 weeks after the decision has been taken.

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3 RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 The Learning and Leisure Services Committee is recommended;

1. to approve formal consultation based on the proposals that, at the end of school session 2012/13, the provision of education at Abronhill High School be discontinued, or the provision of education at Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School be discontinued and a new school be established, and that all pupils in attendance at both the current Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will thereafter be provided with education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises.

2. to approve for formal consultation that at the start of the school session in August 2013 all primary school pupils who under the present arrangements would have transferred to Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will be provided with secondary education at the existing Cumbernauld High School premises.

3. to support the consideration of a new build school to replace the existing Cumbernauld High School as an early priority in the next phase of the Schools and Centres 21 programme.

4. to approve that the consultative document attached to this report be issued and made available to all interested parties.

5. to approve that all interested parties be invited to make written representation to the Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School Rationalisation, Learning & Leisure Services, Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, by no later than 20th November 201 2. Alternatively comments can be submitted by e-mail to abcumconsultation@northlan.nov.uk. These views will be taken into account by the Learning and Leisure Services Committee in deciding on the proposals.

6. to request that the head of resources submit a report on the responses to the consultation to a future meeting of the Learning and Leisure Services Committee.

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THIS IS A

CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT

NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

LEARNING AND LEISURE SERVICES

PROPOSED RATIONALISATION OF ABRONHILL HIGH SCHOOL AND CUMBERNAULD HIGH SCHOOL

This document has been issued by the Learning and Leisure Services Committee of North Lanarkshire Council for consultation in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 201 0.

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NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL : LEARNING & LEISURE SERVICES

Proposed Rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School

INTRODUCTION

Abronhill High School was opened in 1978 and is located on Larch Road, Abronhill. It is a part single-storey/part 3-storey brick construction with a flat roof. The current pupil capacity is 870 places.

Cumbernauld High School was built in 1964 and is located on South Kildrum Ring Road, Cumbernauld. The school comprises a series of linked blocks of 2 to 4-storeys constructed of precon with facing brick and with flat roofs. The current pupil capacity is 1206 places.

The school rolls in August 201 1 were 486 and 640 respectively

The location and catchment areas of each of the schools are shown in Appendix 1

The catchment primary schools that would be affected by the proposal are as follows:

Abronhill HS Cumbernauld HS Abronhill PS Carbrain PS Whitelees PS Cumbernauld PS

Kildrum PS Ravenswood PS

This paper is divided into the following sections:

1. Introduction 2. Proposal 3. Education Benefits Statement 4. Implications of the proposals - appropriate supporting evidence or information 5. Equality Impact Assessment 6. Next steps and summary of the consultation process

PROPOSAL

The proposal in this document is that Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School be rationalised onto one campus for the start of session 2013/14. There are two main reasons for this proposal:

(1) The current schools are not cost effective with significant underutilisation. The rationalisation will bring savings which can be either reinvested or help to minimise savings in Learning and Leisure Services and other council services;

(2) It will provide the best opportunity for a new build school in the future to be adequately funded.

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Table 1 : Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools (September 201 1)

School

Abronhill HS

Cumbernauld HS

TOTAL

Gradings RolllPlaces (Sept 201 I ) Other

Surplus Occupancy Users Places % Condition Utilisation Suitability Roll Places

B C C 486 870 384 56 Partnership

B C B 640 1206 566 53 Psychological

office

ServiceIASN Unit

I I I I 1126 I 2076 I 950 , 54 I

A: very good; B: good; C: poor; D: very poor

2.2 As part of the proposal we will investigate whether the Partnership Office can be located elsewhere across the wider school estate.

3 EDUCATION BENEFITS STATEMENT - ABRONHILL AND CUMBERNAULD HIGH SCHOOLS

3.1 Assessment of the likely educational benefits of implementing the proposal is well understood by the service, based on a proven track record in successful school re-alignments. Education Scotland are tasked with reviewing all re-alignment proposals as part of the consultation process, and the Council’s success in rationalising provision is previously affirmed as being well managed and effective. Performance in achieving positive Inspection reports for new build high schools is also strong, reinforcing the high quality of accommodation and its positive impact on the school experience for young people.

3.2 It is the view of the Service therefore, that implementation of the proposal would offer significant educational advantages. These are considered below:

Greater flexibility in grouping pupils for learning and teaching

Smaller schools have little room for manoeuvre in forming classes, whereas larger secondary schools of over 1,000 pupils have a greater range of possibilities open to them in forming class groups. As best suits the area of the curriculum or the pupil cohort, there is flexibility in the larger school setting to group pupils in different ways - according to their skill in a subject, or to place them in broader ability levels, or in mixed ability classes as required. In addition, there is more choice available to Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC) staff in the integration of pupils into mainstream classes, and a broader choice of subjects available for to the Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC) for integration within the bigger school.

Pupils further benefit from the fact that there is greater opportunity to change a pupil’s class if they need extra support in a subject, show improvement, or if there are problems within their current class that have not been resolved by other means. These possibilities are not so readily available in smaller schools.

More choices for pupils

A combined high school will enable all young people, mainstream and Language and Communication Support Centre (LSCS) alike, to benefit from a broader range of curricular and pastoral opportunities. It is incumbent on schools to strive to meet the differing needs and requirements of a wide range of students in terms of attainment, ability and pupils’ subject preferences, and a larger school is better able to meet this requirement. Whilst many pupils will pursue the more traditional subject choices in pursuit of national qualifications, others will engage in specialist vocational programmes and some pupils will follow a mixture of academic

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and vocational courses. This breadth is more readily available in a larger school, affording young people ample opportunity for personalisation and choice in their learning, in line with the aspirations of a Curriculum for Excellence.

Smaller high schools find it difficult to offer a large range of options across many different levels, particularly at advanced levels of study. Pupils seeking advanced level courses in a subject may have to access this in another larger school through consortium arrangements. Such arrangements are constrained by timetabling, and by the necessity to build in travel time for pupils to move from school to school, which is time spent away from study. In a larger school, a greater number of pupils will choose curricular programmes, and so, there is less need to attend another school in S5 or S6 in order to study a subject not delivered in the school they attend, and a wider availability of vocational programmes.

This potential to deliver an increased range of courses leading to national qualifications, particularly in the S5 and S6 year groups, would impact positively on pupils in the new school and has potential to enhance local availability of courses across neighbouring high schools.

0 Advantages of purpose built accommodation

It is the view of the Service, borne out across a highly successful programme of new build schools, that the planned new build high school would more easily meet current best practice in learning and teaching, including the effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The combined high school would ultimately benefit from first rate, purpose built accommodation and facilities conducive to meeting the demands of learning in the 21” Century.

As in all previous new build projects, specialist advisers from the Quality Improvement Service liaise with school managers and design staff to inform the design process. This ensures that the accommodation is fully compliant with the flexible, active approaches to learning advocated by Curriculum for Excellence and takes full account of the requirements for effective delivery of courses. The Council’s excellent, nationally recognised track record in delivering new schools has seen high quality design evolve to the current very high specification which significantly enhances facilities for pupils and staff and enables the school to fully meet its aspirations for delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.

The Council has bid for Scottish Government funding to replace the existing Greenfaulds High School campus. By replacing the existing Cumbernauld High School premises in a closely similar timeframe, the service would achieve efficiency both in financial terms and in terms of project delivery.

Across the school campus, the siting of related subject areas in zones provides for more connected teaching, with for example, Science subjects adjacent. This is not always the case in more traditional school buildings, where related subjects can often be located in different areas, across different floors of the building, or with subject classrooms spread across more than one floor. Similarly, staff bases are centrally located within the subject area, as are technicians’ stores and resource areas, ensuring that materials are centrally located and more readily available to staff in delivering courses, and so maximising their use.

Spaces for learning will be designed to reflect current best practice in their layout and how they are appointed. Again using Science as an example, the traditional lab layout of long benches for pupils, with teacher’s bench at the front of the classroom, has given way to a flexible approach where small groups of pupils occupy a work station with integrated sink and services.

This flexible layout with easier access to practical areas encourages improved pupil behaviour, with, for example small groups of pupils easily accessing an adjacent sink, rather then a queue of pupils waiting to use a sink at the periphery of the classroom, with the attendant implications for pupil behaviour.

Such purpose built areas in new schools extend across all practical subjects, with required facilities built in and not provided as “add-ons ‘I. The working environment for Physical Education

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now typically includes all weather pitches and a wider range of “skill specific” areas, such as games courts, fitness suite and dance studio, gymnasia, and all necessary sound and ICT equipment fully incorporated. Drama and Music provision, for example, is sited in considered locations, with sound proofing as appropriate, and is enhanced by the integration of sound and lighting. This is supplemented by a school hall where sophisticated stage, sound and lighting systems enable young people to learn and perform in a professional environment.

As well as being fully compliant with health and safety requirements, layouts for classrooms are flexible and more conducive to co-operation and collaboration in learning. This streamlined approach facilitates and encourages the approaches to learning advocated by the Curriculum for Excellence, such as active or interdisciplinary learning. Classrooms can be re-arranged to suit the demands of any given lesson or pupil grouping.

Integrated ICT includes interactive whiteboards and wall or ceiling mounted overhead projectors with screen and remote control technology which enables the teacher, traditionally sited at the front of the class near the chalkboard, to circulate among pupils and better facilitate the learning. Learning is further enhanced by purpose built ICT suites, which can be booked for a class or group of pupils or to support parent workshops and presentations or teachers’ professional development activities.

Traditional school libraries, formerly located adjacent to the English department, are now centrally sited in recognition of the key role research and information gathering plays across all subjects and the prominence of internet access in study. Students and staff benefit from easy regular access to ICT and the common practice of pupils transferring work between school and home, preparing multi disciplinary presentations or extending their e-portfolios is supported by a state of the art library and information centre.

Integration of pupils within the Language and Communication Support Centre (LSCS)

In Cumbernauld High School, the inclusion of pupils with language and communication difficulties, referred from schools across North Lanarkshire, within the integrated Language and Communication Support Centre, has a beneficial effect for both the pupils within the LCSC and the pupils within the mainstream school.

In the school’s Inspection in 2008, the effective inclusion of pupils into the mainstream school was cited as a key strength of the school. Whilst pupils with more complex needs follow an individualised programme within the LSCS itself, many students are integrated into mainstream classes for all or part of their learning and progress well. The new LCSC would be fully Integrated within the new campus building, continuing to ensure effective support from teachers and support staff within the LSCS where needed, but with an excellent environment for its young people to achieve independence and develop social skills, working alongside their peers in the mainstream school. The existing dedicated outdoor area would be replicated, offering a social space for young people as well as providing for those pupils who require a higher level of support during break times.

Within the new provision, there is enhanced scope for pupils to act as role models, for students within the LSCS as well as for younger pupils. Transition processes for those young people who would transfer to the proposed new setting would be undertaken in partnership with the Depute Head with designated responsibility for the LCSC and the staff team, with support from the school’s Area Additional Support Needs Manager, the full involvement of parents and carers and sensitivity to the needs and views of the young people involved.

0 A wider range of staff skills

In a larger school, there is a larger staff team, and accordingly a wider range of skills to call upon to enable young people to meet the prescribed capacities of Curriculum for Excellence as successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals. There would be no detriment to the wide range of citizenship and pupil leadership opportunities young people enjoy across both existing high schools, and scope for increased pupil participation

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through a wider range of committees, fora and focus groups. In addition, the many and varied extra curricular opportunities currently offered, many of them during lunchtimes and after school, can not only be sustained but are likely to be enhanced through the increased capacity of a larger staff team.

There would be greater capacity for staff planning together to combine their respective expertise in planning and delivery of the curriculum, in collective approaches to assessment and moderation, and in the shared evaluation of the learning experiences offered. Within the wider staff team, there is better opportunity to share practice and to collaborate to design new courses and programmes of study to meet the demands of the Curriculum for Excellence. With particular regard to Interdisciplinary Learning, advocated by Curriculum for Excellence to enable young people to learn in a more connected way, within meaningful, real life contexts, a wider staff group has a broader skills base on which to draw.

More management support

In the two schools under consideration each has an individual management team of promoted teachers. The number of depute head teachers and principal teachers of Pupil Support appointed within the school will be in line with the pupil roll. This larger management team will have a commensurate amount of time available to set the direction of travel for improvement, manage the day to day operational business of the school, ensure the pastoral care of young people, deliver against the attainment and achievement agenda, monitor and evaluate the work of departments and classes and provide extra support to pupils.

0 Improved conditions for staff

Whilst the existing Schools were designed for more staff than current the staffrooms will be within purpose built new schools are better located than traditional staff common rooms. Within staff bases there are, alongside central working areas, individual staff “pods” enabling teachers to have materials to hand for planning, preparation and marking of course work, maximising non pupil contact time. This is a significant improvement to traditional lay outs where teachers stored their materials and resources in their classrooms and were often unable to access these while classrooms were in use by another teacher.

There is potential to enhance existing positive staff motivation and morale across the two schools through a well equipped, modern, comfortable working environment, with less time wasted seeking out resources which may be inconveniently located and an environment more conducive to collegiate working.

0 School ethos

Both schools under current consideration were designed for larger school rolls. Although designed to accommodate 870 students, Abronhill currently has only 486. Cumbernauld was designed for 1206 pupils but the current pupil roll is 640. The new high school would be more fully occupied, yet would offer better distributed space: colour themes to support orientation and pupil movement across the school, centralised gathering areas and cafeteria space, wider corridors and much improved toilet facilities These aspects all reduce pupil congestion and minimise attendant disruptive behaviour across the school at large and within faculty areas.

A new purpose built working environment that is fresh, modern and welcoming enhances pupils’ pride in their school, as evidenced by a marked lack of graffiti or damage within existing new build facilities.

Objective evaluation by external agencies, including Education Scotland, demonstrate many positive aspects of school ethos attributable to the new modern learning environment. In Airdrie Academy, a recent new build high school, the innovative programme of work experience, careers education and S6 leadership programme, delivered through the school’s very positive partnership with its facilities management team, is praised by Education Scotland as enhancing the school’s existing partnerships. In a recent inspection of St Andrew’s High School formed as a result of rationalisation, and sited in a purpose built new campus, Education Scotland

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commented on, “Enhanced facilities, especially for physical education and activities, which create a motivating environment for learning.” There is wide acceptance of the very positive impact on school ethos of new purpose built accommodation and this is reflected in inspection reports, exemplified by the comment, “There is a sense of optimism in the school which is uniting young people, staff and the community in moving forward. ‘I

0 Transition issues

The service is fully committed to ensuring continuity of provision for young people who would be affected by the proposals and has extensive experience of the effective management of transition within the context of school provision.

The transition programme would be progressed through the Quality Framework, and would include a number of key elements. In full consultation with the two schools and supported by the Quality Improvement Officer and Quality Improvement Manager for the school, an Action Plan would be drawn up, specifying clear targets set against agreed timescales. The School Improvement Plans of both schools would be reviewed to form the improvement agenda for the new school, incorporating well planned and carefully managed transition arrangements for pupils established in partnership across both schools, and particular sensitivity to the needs of young people within the Language and Communication Support Unit in transferring to the new setting.

The management team of the combined school would work in close partnership with its associated primary schools, five in all, to ensure smooth and successful transfer for incoming S I pupils. Barriers to learning brought about by the traditional “fresh start” approach to starting high school are no longer prevalent, and the excellent work carried out in primary - secondary liaison across the two schools under consideration ensures progression through building on previous learning. This continuity and progression would be maintained. It is now customary, where school provision is being re-aligned, for P7 pupils in associated primaries to spend the annual residential visit to Kilbowie Outdoor Education Centre as a cluster, and it is anticipated that this opportunity would be made available to the newly formed cluster for the school. There are further opportunities within transition Summer School to promote confidence in transferring to high school.

The views of young people would be carefully considered and every opportunity would be taken to ensure participation of young people in the decision making process, including decisions around House structures, aspects of uniform such as new school badge and tie, and liaison activities and opportunities, to promote a sense of ownership and a unified pupil community.

Monitoring of the tasks within the Action Plan would be carried out by the assigned officers. In addition, the officers in the Quality Improvement Service with designated responsibility for Parent Council and Pupil Council matters would support integration between the existing Parent Councils and Pupil Councils within the two schools including the establishment of a new parent council, as appropriate.

As is Customary in re-alignment of school provision, the service would carry out a school improvement visit, focussed on the success of the transition arrangements and on the impact on progress and achievement of the pupils following the re-alignment of provision. A progress report would be submitted to both the Head of Education Quality and Development, and subsequently to the parent council.

The full range of staff affected by the proposal would be fully supported by the fair application of Council policies, and officers from within learning and leisure personnel will be tasked with addressing the professional and personal needs of individuals in respect of this proposal in collaboration with the respective trade unions.

4

4.1 Rolls and Capacities

IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSALS - Appropriate supporting evidence or information

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The projected pupil rolls after the proposed rationalisation are detailed in table 2 below. These are based on the assumptions that the proposals will be implemented as described in section 2.

I Combined school

Table 2 : rolls and capacities following proposed rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School

New Projected Combined Rolls Capacity -

2011 2013 2015 2017 201 9 202 1

1206 1126 1107 1059 1088 1124 1138

The projected rolls exclude placing requests but include house building estimates.

The proposed new catchment area is shown in Appendix 2.

4.2 Transport to school

Pupils resident in the Abronhill or Cumbernauld High School catchment areas attending the school may be entitled to transport in accordance with the council's policy which currently provides free transport to those pupils living more than 2 miles from their zoned school or where a safe walking route is not available.

4.3 Staffing

The rationalisation of Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School will have various staffing implications.

(i) Learning and Leisure staff

The allocation of teaching staff will be amended to reflect the combined roll in accordance with current roll-related staffing standards. Ancillary and support staff allocations will also be amended. The service will seek to redeploy staff as appropriate.

In any event, all staff will be consulted individually about their future aspirations and their particular wishes will be taken into account, where possible. The appropriate trade unions will also be consulted.

(ii) Staff employed by other council services

Staff employed by other council services will be fully consulted about their future deployment. The appropriate trade unions will be included in the discussions.

4.4 Future use of the building

Learning and Leisure Services will declare the vacated Abronhill High School building surplus to its requirements should the rationalisation be approved. Thereafter, the Council's Property Services will make recommendations on its future use or disposal in line with council policy. A business case for a new build school will be progressed at the completion of this consultation.

4.5 Financial implications

The financial strategy agreed by the council gives high priority to the protection of front line services including school budgets. The rationalisation of school provision of schools both reduces the number of empty places and avoids impact on learning and teaching resources. The proposal would generate annual net savings of €1,100,935 after the completion of the transition programme. However, if the savings associated with these proposals are not delivered it will be necessary to identify other options. These options could include an equal

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5 5.1

reduction in teaching posts of approximately 27 FTE or in per capita budget for books and teaching resources.

Annual Saving f

Revenue Contribution Employee Costs Existing staffing at Abronhill High School Estimated additional staff costs in receiving schools

2,078,815

Table 3 below provides analysis of the revenue savings and costs during the initial 3 year period.

Annual Net Saving cost f f

1,413,862 664,953

Property Costs School property budget 482,597 Estimated maintenance costs funded centrally On-going Costs: 50% Rates

School Devolved Budgets 45,909

Transport Costs Option 1: All pupils to Cumbernauld High School

2,607,321 1 Year Net Revenue Saving Estimated Preparation in receiving school

Required Preparation Works:- (i) Refurbishment of Toilet Areas (ii) Remodelling of car park (iii) Curriculum adaptations

62,524 420,073

45,909

30,000 (30,000)

1,506,386 1,100,935 1 , 100,935

Abronhill Cumbernauld f f

100,000 50,000 50,000

One off spend associated with closing school (i) Boarding up costs 67,000

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The proposals contained within the report have been equality impact assessed. Results of the impact assessment indicate that there is no adverse impact or any disproportionate effect on any section of the community. The results of the assessment will be published on the council's website.

6 NEXT STEPS AND SUMMARY CONSULTATION PROCESS

6.1 At its meeting on 1" October 2012 Learning and Leisure Services Committee agreed to issue this document for consultation.

6.2 It is very important to emphasise that the Learning and Leisure Services Committee has not taken a final decision on the proposals.

6.3 Members of the school community may wish to put forward alternative solutions to the proposal in this consultation paper. The Council will consider any such suggestions which are considered to be viable.

6.4 As part of the consultation two public meetings will be held at Abronhill High School on Wednesday 24'h October 2012 at 7.00 p.m. and Cumbernauld High School on Thursday 25'h October 2012 at 7.00 p.m. Officers from the service will be present to answer any questions

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about the proposal. In addition, interested parties are invited to submit questions in advance for answering at the meeting. These should be addressed to Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School Rationalisation, Learning & Leisure Services, Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, ML5 3BT.

6.5 All interested parties are invited to send their views on the proposals to Abronhill High School and Cumbernauld High School Rationalisation, Learning & Leisure Services, Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, ML5 3BT, by no later than 20th November 2012. Alternatively, comments can be submitted by e-mail to abcumconsultation@northlan.qov.uk. These views will be taken into account by the Learning and Leisure Services Committee in deciding on the proposals.

6.6 Copies of this consultation document are available from Learning and Leisure Services at the above address, the schools affected and at local libraries. It is also available on the council's website. The report on the consultation will also be available at these locations no later than 1 5th January 201 3.

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Appendix 2 Consultation proposal by North Lanarkshire Council

Report by Education Scotland, addressing educational aspects of the proposal by North Lanarkshire Council to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School.

1. Introduction

1 .I on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the building currently used by Cumbernauld High School. The proposal also includes the option to build a new school on the Cumbernauld High School site in the future. At the time of the consultation, there were no specific details available on the exact nature of the new build.

North Lanarkshire Council proposes to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools

1.2 The report from Education Scotland is required under the terms of the Schools (Consultafion) (Scotland) Act 2010. It has been prepared by HM Inspectors in accordance with the terms of the Act.

1.3 proposal:

HM Inspectors undertook the following activities in considering the educational aspects of the

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2.1

attendance at the public meeting held on 25 October 2012 at Cumbernauld High School in connection with the council’s proposals;

consideration of all relevant documentation provided by the council in relation to the proposal, specifically the educational benefits statement and related consultation documents, written and oral submissions from parents and others; and

visits to the sites of Abronhill High School, Cumbernauld High School, Abronhill Primary School, Whitelees Primary School, Cumbernauld Primary School, Kildrum Primary School, Carbrain Primary School and Ravenswood Primary School, including discussion with relevant consultees.

HM Inspectors considered:

the likely effects of the proposal for children and young people of the schools; any other users; children likely to become pupils within two years of the date of publication of the proposal paper; and other children and young people in the council area;

any other likely effects of the proposal;

how the council intends to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from the proposal; and

benefits which the council believes will result from implementation of the proposal, and the council’s reasons for coming to these beliefs.

Consultation process

North Lanarkshire Council undertook the initial consultation on its DroDosals with reference to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Acf 2010. The consultation included an invitation for written submissions and public meetings held at Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on 24 and 25 October 2012. The council also sought the views of children and young people affected by the proposal at each school.

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2.2 At the public meetings and in the large number of responses received by the council as part of the consultation process, there was significant opposition to the proposal. These concerns related to the timescale for the proposal, the safety of young people walking from the Abronhill area to Cumbernauld High School, transition issues including for children and young people with additional support needs and the educational benefits set out by the council based on the possibility of a future new build. In addition, concerns were expressed about the impact of closing Abronhill High School on the local community of Abronhill.

2.3 Almost all parents of children from each of the schools had significant concerns about the proposal. They expressed concerns about the short timescale for implementing the proposal and the possible impact this would have on their children’s education. They were particularly concerned about the route that young people from the Abronhill area would have to take when walking to Cumbernauld High School. In their view, this route was unsafe for young people as it was through a densely wooded area which was poorly lit and not sufficiently close to a residential area. Parents were also concerned that the educational benefits set out in the proposal related mainly to a new build school which was not guaranteed and may not be ready until around 2016. Many parents were unclear about the benefits of the proposal for young people attending the existing campus at Cumbernauld High School from August 2013.

2.4 study at school. However, most parents were very concerned about the different curricular structures operating in each high school and how this would impact on their children’s education. They were concerned about the lack of time for their children and staff to prepare for working together and how the introduction of the new national qualifications as set out in Curriculum for Excellence would impact on their children’s achievements. Parents also expressed concerns about transition for young people with additional learning needs across all of the schools and specifically for those who currently attend the Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC) at Cumbernauld High School.

A few parents felt that the proposal may offer their children a broader range of subjects to

2.5 Overall, children and young people from across the schools were not in favour of the proposal. A few were positive about the possibility of making new friends and studying a wider range of subjects in a larger school. However, they expressed significant concerns about the proposal. They were particularly worried about the safety of young people walking from Abronhill to Cumbernauld High School. Children and young people’s concerns related to the distance, nature of the route and the possibility of disagreements between young people from each community. Older young people were concerned about the impact of the proposal on their learning and how it would affect their attainment and achievements. They were also concerned about the impact of closing Abronhill High School on the local community.

2.6 Overall, staff from each of the schools were not in favour of the proposal. They were particularly concerned about the timescale involved and how they could ensure the successful transition for all young people and minimise any disruption to their learning. Staff from Cumbernauld High School were particularly concerned about the impact of the proposal on those young people who attend the LCSC. They felt that they would require careful transition for any change in their education and that the increase in pupil and staff numbers would require careful planning. Staff from both high schools were concerned about the different curriculum structures being offered by each school and they expressed concerns about how this would impact on their progress in implementing Curriculum for Excellence and new National Qualifications. Staff were also concerned about managing larger numbers of young people and how this would impact on available accommodation in, for example, home economics and physical education and also on class sizes.

3. Educational aspects of the proposal

3.1 Both Cumbernauld High School and Abronhill High School are operating at just over fifty percent occupancy and are therefore underutilised. The council sets out in its proposal that both schools are not cost effective and the rationalisation would bring savings that could be reinvested or

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used to help minimise savings elsewhere in the council. It also states that this proposal would be the best opportunity to invest in a new build school. The council acknowledges that some renovation work would be required at the existing Cumbernauld High School. Cumbernauld High School has been graded B (good) in terms of the condition of the building. Council officials have acknowledged that inaccurate and conflicting information was provided about the building condition in another council report where it was graded C (poor). The information available in the consultation report is accurate.

3.2 The Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out clearly the duties of a council with regard to its educational benefits statement. A significant number of the points covered within the range of educational benefits set out in the council’s proposal relate specifically to the benefits to young people who would attend a new build school. There are no firm plans available for this new build which the council indicates may not be available until around 2016. As a result, the educational benefits associated with this aspect of the proposal are not valid for children and young people who would be affected by this proposal from August 2013. As a result, the council’s proposal does not address sufficiently the educational benefits for young people who would attend the existing Cumbernauld High School campus from summer 201 3.

3.3 greater flexibility in grouping young people and widening the range of choices available to them. The increase in pupil and staff numbers particularly in S5 and S6 would enable this to happen. Young people would benefit from an increase in available subject options, particularly at the senior stages. At present, young people attending both schools benefit from opportunities to learn in different ways including in smaller and larger groups. In addition, they benefit from a range of staff skills which supports their learning and development in a variety of ways. The inspection of Abronhill High School (March 2009) noted strengths in the relationships between staff and young people and the opportunities for broader achievement. The council also states that there would be a greater range of staff skills available for young people. However, the proposal does not make this aspect sufficiently clear including particular areas that would be of further benefit to young people over and above those benefits that they currently have.

The proposal sets out some other educational benefits. These relate mainly to providing

3.4 The council’s proposal sets out particular benefits for those young people who attend the LCSC. In particular, the council suggests that young people would benefit from further integration in to mainstream classes. Currently almost all young people are fully integrated in to classes in Cumbernauld High School and therefore the council’s proposal does not set out clearly what further benefit this would offer to these young people. In addition, the proposal does not take sufficient account of the possible effects of changes within Cumbernauld High School for young people who attend the LCSC and how these may impact on their learning.

3.5 further consideration. At most, young people, parents and staff will have around four months to prepare for the closure of Abronhill High School and the transfer of young people and staff to Cumbernauld High School. This offers very limited time to ensure careful transition planning for all young people as well as support for those transferring from primary school to S I . Young people with additional support needs and those with autism in particular require careful planning which takes account of advice from partner agencies to prepare them for significant changes to their educational environment. Given the time remaining, staff and parents are very concerned that they do not have sufficient time left to prepare young people properly for this change. As it stands, it is possible that the proposal may have a detrimental impact on these young people.

The timescale outlined in the council’s proposal raises a number of important issues that need

3.6 Young people who would attend Cumbernauld High School from the Abronhill area will have a distance of around three miles to travel to school. There are two routes that would be available, one of which involves a main road with no footpath and the other is through a densely wooded and poorly lit area. The council makes brief mention of transport to school in the proposal. However, it will need

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to consider carefully young people’s safety when travelling to school and provide greater assurances to parents and young people about how it will ensure young people’s safety.

3.7 Abronhill High School is currently used for both out-of-schools hours clubs run by the school and for community groups and activities each evening. The proposal does not give sufficient consideration to the impact of closing the school on the local community. Further consideration also needs to be given to how Cumbernauld High School would ensure young people’s access to out-of- school hours clubs and activities given the distance from Abronhill to Cumbernauld High School and the matters noted in relation to the walking route.

4. Summary

4.1 Schools on one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School addresses the under capacity issues in the school estate and would also help the council achieve budget savings. However, it offers a limited number of educational benefits to those children and young people immediately affected by the proposal in 2013. These benefits relate mainly to the provision of a broader range of subjects for young people, particularly at S5 and S6. However, the proposal may have a detrimental impact on the education of some young people, particularly those with additional support who require careful transition planning. This will need further consideration by the council including taking advice from partner agencies about planning for young people with additional learning needs. In addition, there are a number of significant issues which the council will need to consider further if it decides to proceed with the proposal in its current form. This includes providing greater clarity about how it intends to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from this proposal.

The proposal from North Lanarkshire Council to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High

4.2 A significant part of the council’s proposal relates specifically to the benefits of a new build school. There are no firm plans available for this new build which the council indicates may not be available until around 201 6. The proposal does not address sufficiently the educational benefits for young people who would attend the existing Cumbernauld High School campus from summer 201 3.

4.3 people, parents, staff and the local community. Stakeholders are justifiably concerned about the timescale for implementation and the lack of evidence on possible detriment to young people’s education. The concerns raised about the walking route to Cumbernauld High School are also justified and the council now needs to provide young people and their parents with clearer information on how it will ensure young people’s health and safety. In doing so, they should consider carrying out a full risk assessment of the walking routes and possible alternatives.

The proposal is opposed by a significant number of stakeholders including children and young

4.4 new school, HM Inspectors are not confident that the current proposal to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 201 2/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School would ensure immediate educational benefits for children and young people in 201 3.

In relation to the concerns raised in this report and in the absence of any detailed plans for a

HM Inspectors Education Scotland January 201 3

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