Educationalist criticises Madras College plan as a 'sub-optimal' compromise
One of Scotland's leading educationalists has warned that Fife Council's plans for Madras College do not put pupils at the fore.
The Kilrymont campus of Madras College.
- By Kirsten Johnson
- Published in the Courier : 09.01.12
- Published online : 09.01.12 @ 09.32am
The Courier has been given exclusive access to an independent report on the future of the St Andrew's secondary school, written by Keir Bloomer — one of the authors of the Curriculum for Excellence.
The document, which will be delivered to the local authority today, concludes the best option for current and prospective students would be to build an entirely new ''imaginative'' building on at least 25 acres of ground — not to redevelop one of the cramped current sites.
The need for a new campus has been a hot topic in the town since 2006, when HMIe inspectors criticised the condition of facilities at both South Street and Kilrymont Road.
Since then, education chiefs have been exploring possible options for uniting all year groups — just under 1,500 pupils — in one single institution.
Talks began with St Andrews University with the hope of acquiring land at Lang Lands, a greenfield site, but these discussions collapsed in August last year.
Following much speculation, on November 10 last year the Education and Children's Services Committee reached the conclusion that the best option would be a redevelopment of the Kilrymont site — designed in the 1960s to accommodate a roll of 700 — at a cost of £40 million. This option is now the subject of formal consultation.
Former chief executive of Clackmannanshire Council and president of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland in 1999/2000, Mr Bloomer is chairman of the Court of Queen Margaret University and the Tapestry Partnership, the School Reform Commission and is vice-convenor of Children in Scotland.
In his 28-page report, commissioned by the Muir Group — which has proposed building a new single-campus Madras College at Pipeland Farm — Mr Bloomer stresses the importance of providing a campus which will allow for ''changing approaches to learning and teaching and increasing flexibility in the way schools are organised.''
Referring to the ideas for Kilrymont, he states: ''Refurbishment inevitably entails compromises. In this case, these will be dictated both by structural issues and by the concerns of Historic Scotland.
''The Kilrymont site is not large for the roll of the school. The position of the existing buildings and the need to maintain a large area for playing fields largely determine how it can be developed.
''There is little, if any, room for future development and some sports facilities will continue to have to be provided at a distance of some two miles. This is not an ideal situation.''
He goes on: ''Changing educational practices are likely to impose requirements for increased space that will outweigh the effects of slowly declining rolls.
''Ideally, new schools should occupy sites that allow for future developments. Active learning and other aspects of Curriculum for Excellence will also impose a need for more and better library and research facilities.''
Also, during building work, the school will ''unquestionably suffer considerable disruption'', Mr Bloomer adds.
During the two-year construction phase, it is expected all pupils will be housed at South Street — with a considerable number of huts set up on the playground areas.
The report suggests this will be detrimental, with little room to carry out key outcomes of the new curriculum within the walled grounds.
Mr Bloomer also questions why council planners have moved plans to the consultation stage with ''insufficient'' details of Historic Scotland requirements.
He asks that the needs of learners be put ahead of time pressures, saying: ''Issues that were resolved long ago in most parts of the country remain problematic.''
He continues: ''Now that a feasible proposal is on the table and resources are available, there will be an expectation that the project will be completed as soon as possible.
''However, education is going through a period of rapid change and it is important to try to ensure that the new school is as good as it can be and meets the needs of the present and the foreseeable future.
''The council's preferred option offers a practical way forward but a sub-optimal final outcome. The best option for Madras College would be the building of an entirely new school, imaginatively designed to meet present and future educational requirements, and situated on a spacious clear site of 25 or more acres.''
09.57am - 09.01.2012 Rob - Largoward, Fife Report This
I cannot see how anyone could not support the building of an entirely new facility suited to the needs of education of pupils! The council must see this regardless of the cost to it's coffers.
Add a comment