A partial or full decant of pupils while work on Madras College’s replacement is carried out will have a significant detrimental impact on the youngsters, campaigners have claimed.
Members of the Parent Voice group which is pushing for a new build Madras on an alternative site not only believe that will be the case but have now suggested council officials have previously acknowledged the sentiment when taking important decisions elsewhere.
The group has pointed to the precedent they believe was set when plans to refurbish and extend Burntisland Primary School were rejected because of, amongst other reasons, fears over what impact the proposed decant arrangements would have had on pupils’ education there.
Councillors went on to back plans for a new build at East Toll Park and Brian Thomson, from Parent Voice, has drawn parallels between the Burntisland situation and the one surrounding Madras College’s future in St Andrews.
”We have said all along that the proposed decant would have a detrimental impact upon pupils, and we now find that Fife Council agree with this in their rejection of a potential decant in Burntisland,” he said.
”This is yet another example of why the proposed refurbishment and extension of Kilrymont should be rejected.”
The council has been consulting on its plans to refurbish and extend the existing Madras College site at Kilrymont, with the outcome of that consultation expected at the end of this week.
But Parent Voice has poured scorn on the current vision for Madras and believes a new build elsewhere in St Andrews would serve pupils, parents, staff and the area much better.
The group has highlighted a report by education executive director Ken Greer considered by councillors on January 12 which recommended a new build in relation to Burntisland Primary and dismissed a potential refurbishment and extension of the existing primary school.
Various reasons were given for that recommendation, including suggestions any refurbish and extend option would further reduce playground space and would limit the scope to accommodate any future increase in school roll.
The report also stated that any partial or full decant of pupils for a period of up to two years would have a ”significant detrimental impact” upon them.
Insisting the situation at Madras mirrors the one council officials had in relation to Burntisland, Parent Voice has questioned why a different course of action is now being pursued.
”All of the points apply to the proposed refurbishment and extension of Kilrymont,” Mr Thomson added.