Parents’ views are being sought on a shake-up of South Angus education provision which could see the creation of a tri-council ‘super-campus’ shared with Dundee and Perth and Kinross.
In the latest phase of the ambitious 30-year Angus Schools for the Future programme, education bosses have produced a range of eight options in a Monifieth cluster proposal which aims to tackle issues of unsuitable buildings and over or under-capacity facilities.
The extension or replacement of Monifieth High School, which is currently over-capacity and has a low buildings rating, is central to a number of the proposals.
Angus Council is now seeking public feedback on the options appraisal having already met with children and young people from all the cluster schools, as well as parent council officials across the area.
Key considerations will include Monifieth High’s C-rating for suitability against the authority’s target of B or above; an Auchterhouse Primary roll forecast to fall below 50% capacity by 2023 while bulging Mattocks primary breaches 100% in the same period, and a near £900,000 estimate to keep Grange Primary up to scratch.
The concept of a partnership project with Perth and Kinross and Dundee City Councils to deliver a joint community campus is one of the ideas on the table.
Around 300 secondary school youngsters are currently bussed daily from the Birkhill area on the west of Dundee to Monifieth High.
Angus children and learning convener Councillor Derek Wann said: “Making sure we have schools that offer the best quality learning environment and make the best use of the resources available, is at the heart of our Schools for the Future programme.
“This survey presents a comprehensive range of options for the Monifieth cluster which could also affect other schools in the south west of Angus so I would like to urge as many people as possible to tell us their views.”
Monifieth and Sidlaw Conservative councillor, Craig Fotheringham added: “There is a wide and innovative range of options to consider, so it is vital that we get the views of parents, carers, children and young people, and the local community,”
The survey will run until midnight on Friday October 26, with residents able to comment via the council’s website.
Parent power has already altered the shape of the strategy after Stracathro School parents successfully overturned a proposal to close the rural primary in the first phase of the programme.
The 17-pupil school had been earmarked for merger with Edzell primary, but a determined campaign led by Stracathro parent council led to councillors dumping a plan branded “daft” within the local community.
