government report says the worst should close
Scandal of crumbling schools in north-east
Published:
The majority of schools in Aberdeenshire are run down or should be closed, according to a Scottish Government report unveiled yesterday.
Figures show that 85% of the region’s primary schools are rated “poor” or “bad”, and 70% of secondary schools and 40% of special schools are in a poor condition.
The local authority has a £150million capital investment programme for the next 10 years – but admits it will still be impossible to provide children with the modern facilities they deserve.
It emerged last night that Aberdeenshire Council has been in discussions with ministers and senior civil servants over extra funding.
But the only help available seems to be from the controversial Scottish Futures Trust, a proposed source of funding to replace the public-private-partnership and public finance initiatives.
The trust would use the so-called non-profit method.
But the government is unable to say when the trust will start to deliver.
A report on the condition of Scotland’s schools estate shows Aberdeenshire has 85 of the 152 primary schools rated as poor (category C) – showing major defects and/ or not operating adequately.
It rated 45 as bad (category D) – economic life expired and/or risk of failure.
Primaries in the worst condition include Kennethmont, Old Rayne, Strathdon, Udny Green and Westhill.
Just five of the area’s secondary schools are in a good or satisfactory state, with the remaining 12 in category C.
The poor schools include Banff, Banchory, Peterhead, and Mearns academies.
Two of Aberdeenshire’s five special schools are rated in a poor condition.
Aberdeenshire Council’s director of education, Bruce Robertson, said there were two main reasons for the problem – the large number of schools and rapidly expanding communities that meant the council has to build new schools which had not left enough resources for repairs and maintenance.
“That is why the council had a major review of its capital plan and significantly increased the amount of the investment that will take place in Aberdeenshire schools over the next decade,” he said.
“Even with that we will not be able to significantly improve large numbers of these schools because we simply don’t have the resources.”
The council plans to replace Alford Academy and has plans for other schools like Drumoak, Kinellar, and new schools in communities like Inverurie.
But it costs £40-50million for a new secondary school and £10million for a new average-sized primary.
“In some schools we will be able to significantly improve the environment for learning,” said Mr Robertson.
“However, in many schools we will only be able to do running repairs.”
The council’s education chairman, Richard Stroud, said pupils were having to put up with antiquated facilities.
“Quite a number of our primary schools are buildings from early last century, maybe even earlier,” he said.
“Although the standard of education we deliver is good in those, the facilities in them are not suitable to a modern education curriculum.”
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles said Mearns, Ellon and Kemnay academies were not fit for purpose.
And while the council has a programme of replacement it could not go ahead without funding, he said.
“As far as I am concerned, kids get their education once and we cannot afford to wait years down the line.”
A government spokeswoman said councils had been provided with £3billion for infrastructure programmes and it was up to them to decide how to use it.
RATINGS for Aberdeenshire schools are:
Aberchirder Primary C; Aboyne Primary C; Aboyne Academy C; Alehousewells Primary C; Alford Primary C; Alford Academy C; Ardallie Primary C; Arduthie Primary C; Arnage Primary C; Auchterellon Primary C; Auchterless Primary C; Ballater Primary C; Balmedie Primary C; Banchory Primary C; Banchory Academy C; Banchory-Devenick Primary C; Banff Academy C; Barthol Chapel Primary C; Bervie Primary C; Boddam Primary C; Bracoden Primary C; Braemar Primary C; Buchanhaven Primary C; Burnhaven Primary C.
Cairney Primary D; Carronhill Special C; Catterline Primary D; Chapel of Garioch Primary C; Clatt Primary C; Clerkhill Primary C; Cluny Primary C; Craigievar Primary D; Crathes Primary C; Crathie Primary C; Crimond Primary C; Crombie Primary C; Crudie Primary C; Cultercullen Primary C; Dales Park Primary C; Daviot Primary C; Drumblade Primary C; Drumoak Primary D; Dunecht Primary C; Dunnottar Primary C; Durris Primary D.
Easterfield Primary D; Echt Primary C; Ellon Primary C; Ellon Academy Secondary C; Elrick Primary C; Fetterangus Primary D; Fettercairn Primary C; Fintry Primary C; Finzean Primary C; Fisherford Primary D; Fishermoss Primary C; Fordyce Primary D; Forgue Primary D; Foveran Primary C; Fraserburgh North Primary C; Fraserburgh South Park Primary C; Fyvie Primary D; Gartly Primary D; Glass Primary D; Glenbervie Primary D; Gordon Primary C; The Gordon Schools C; Gourdon Primary D; Hatton (Fintray) Primary D.
Insch Primary C; Inverallochy Primary C; Inverurie Market Place Primary D; Johnshaven Primary D; Keig Primary D; Keithhall Primary D; Kellands Primary D; Kemnay Primary C; Kemnay Academy Secondary C; Kennethmont Primary D; Kincardine O’Neil Primary C; Kininmonth Primary C; Kinneff Primary D; Largue Primary D; Lochpots Primary D; Logie Durno Primary C; Longhaven Primary C; Lumphanan Primary C; Lumsden Primary D; Luthermuir Primary D.
Macduff Primary C; Mackie Academy Secondary C; Markethill Primary C; Marykirk Primary D; Mearns Academy Secondary C; Meethill Primary C; Meiklemill Primary C; Methlick Primary C; Midmar Primary D; Mill O’Forest Primary C; Mintlaw Primary C; Mintlaw Academy Secondary C; Monquhitter Primary D; Monymusk Primary D; New Aberdour Primary C; New Deer Primary D; New Machar Primary C; Newburgh Mathers Primary C; Old Rayne Primary D; Ordiquhill Primary D; Oyne Primary C; Peterhead Academy Secondary C; Peterhead Central Primary C; Pitfour Primary C; Port Elphinstone Primary C; Portlethen Primary C; Portsoy Primary C; Premnay Primary D.
Rathen Primary C; Rayne North Primary C; Redmyre Primary D; Rhynie Primary D; Sandhaven Primary C; Skene Primary C; Slains Primary C; St Andrew's Primary D; St Andrew's Special C; St Cyrus Primary C; St Fergus Primary C; Strachan Primary D; Strathdon Primary D; Strichen Primary C; Stuartfield Primary C; Tarland Primary D; Tarves Primary C; Tipperty Primary C; Torphins Primary D; Tough Primary C; Towie Primary C; Tullynessle Primary C; Turriff Academy Secondary C; Tyrie Primary D; Udny Green Primary D; Westhill Primary D; Whitehills Primary C.
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