Multimillion-pound Easter Ross schools options set to be unveiled
PROPOSALS that will see a number of Easter Ross schools closed to make way for multimillion-pound replacements are set to be unveiled for public comment.
The prospect of a £60million 'campus' in Alness and Invergordon, catering for the educational needs of three tov 18-year-olds, is amongst a series of options being weighed up.
A number of events are to be held across Easter Ross as part of a public dialogue to inform decisions about future school provision in and around the two neighbouring towns.
It forms part of Highland Council's Sustainable School Estate Review (SSER) which aims to deliver long-term sustainable educational benefits across the region by improving the quality of school buildings.
Previous SSER studies have resulted in the construction of the new Ben Wyvis Primary School in Conon plus two new primary school developments in Fort William and the planned replacement of all schools in Wick.
Plans are also being drawn up to create a new three to 18 campus to replace all the schools in Tain.
The review has focused on three broad options for the Alness and Invergordon area. It has considered the educational benefits of the options and has estimated the costs. The options are:
Option 1:
- Create a new ‘3 to 18 campus’ in Alness. This ‘all through’ facility would replace the existing Alness Academy, and either two or three of the existing primary schools (Bridgend, Coulhill and Obsdale) along with related nursery and ASN provision; and,
- Create a new ‘3 to 18 campus’ in Invergordon. This ‘all through’ facility would replace the existing Invergordon Academy, Park Primary and South Lodge Primary Schools along with related nursery and ASN provision.
Including a new pool and community facilities, this is estimated to cost around £60 million. It could be built over six years between 2017 and 2022 inclusive subject to funding being available.
Option 2:
- refurbish and upgrade the existing Alness Academy and Invergordon Academy buildings to a high standard; and,
- build a new primary school in Alness to replace either two or three of the existing primary schools (Bridgend, Coulhill, Obsdale) along with nursery and ASN provision; and,
- build a new primary school in Invergordon to replace Park Primary and South Lodge Primary Schools along with nursery and ASN provision.
This is estimated to cost around £56 million and could be built over six years between 2017 and 2022 inclusive subject to funding being available.
Option 3:
- build a single new secondary school to replace Alness Academy and Invergordon Academy; and.
- build a new primary school in Invergordon to replace Park and South Lodge Primary Schools along with nursery and ASN provision; and,
- build a new primary school in Alness to replace either two or three of the existing primary schools (Bridgend, Coulhill, Obsdale) along with nursery and ASN provision.
This is estimated to cost around £56 million including a new pool and community facilities and could be built over a three year period subject to funding being available.
To help inform the Council choose the best option and plan for these major developments, two drop-in events have been arranged to focus on key aspects of the options.
These events, which are aimed at members of the public will be held in Alness on Monday 24 June and Invergordon on Tuesday, June 25, both running between noon and 7.30 pm.
A website will go live on Monday (June 10). It will be set up at www.education1st.org.uk.
That contains background information on the schools in and around Alness and Invergordon. It includes an online survey which members of the public are invited to complete.
An online blog will also be launched on Monday. It will be set up at www.highland.gov.uk/sser. Members of the public can use it to submit questions and developments will be announced from the Council’s Twitter account @HighlandCouncil and from @Educat1st.
Separate events and activities are also being organised with Parent Councils of the schools in the area, Community Councils and pupils attending the schools.
The four councilors for Cromarty Firth Ward – Mike Finlayson, Martin Rattray, Maxine Smith and Carolyn Wilson - are excited by the plans for such a major investment in their area.
In a leaflet setting out the options, the councilors are jointly quoted as saying: “Our children only get one chance at school education and through the Sustainable School Estate Review (SSER), The Highland Council has been exploring ways of improving the school experience and renewing buildings around Alness and Invergordon.
"The Council team has already had initial discussions with Parent Councils, Community Councils and Head Teachers over the past two years and we now want everyone to have a say in shaping the future for the towns’ schools.
"We would encourage our communities to provide feedback in the coming weeks.”