Protect our Children’s Education
We believe that the education and well being of our children should be central to this review of Primary Schools. Where our children's learning, health, social interaction and personal development must be the focus of any proposed change to their primary education.
We feel that the current consultation process and options for Milngavie Primary have not been subjected to wider strategic planning in terms of the social, cultural, economic and environmental impact on Milngavie of removing both Milngavie and St Joseph’s Primary Schools, book-ends of the vibrant Milngavie town centre
We believe that Milngavie pedestrianised town centre is a successful place, where Milngavie Primary School plays a critical role in the life of our community, where the schools, tranpsort links, shops and cafes, library,...
Ripping the Heart out of Milngavie
The Key Principles for strategic Education Improvement have been specified by East Dunbartonshire Council, but their approach does not meet with these principles and can be summarised as follows: The financial model is founded on building new schools. As you would expect there are numerous drivers for this approach: Refurbishment is 'too expensive'. But the cost of refurbishing Milngavie Primary School has deliberately been set very high and costed as being comparable to building a new school! The aim is to raise capital to finance a new school by selling the land of the 'old school' and borrowing the difference. As we borrow and build our way to Clober, for every £100,000 per annum saving, the Council can borrow another £1.5m. The existing site has been valued for housing, and later revalued to allow for 25% affordable housing. Is this a truly financially viable model?
"Education is a key principle". It is stated that there will be delivery of educational benefits, such as specialist facilities, but the document does not specify what these will be. Will this just give the current Science Lab and IT suite a new home? "New schools will be limited to three classes for each year", but the current attendance figures show that the New Clober School will have four. Does this meet the principles? And finally... "Schools are to be centred within the heart of the wider community, as location of new schools is key to the success of the programme." Is the Clober site anywhere near the heart of Milngavie?
Act Now
East Dunbartonshire Council is looking for your views on the two proposed mergers between Milngavie Primary School with Baldernock and Clober Primary schools. The new school would be located within the current Clober site. This would lead to the sale of the current Milngavie Primary School which would be sold for development. As a resident of East Dunbartonshire, you are now able to comment on the proposals by making your representation online at EDC's Primary Improvement site. The consultation phase ends on the 4th February.
The Action Group
The Milngavie Primary School Action Group is made up of parents from Milngavie Primary School and representatives from the wider community. This group has been set up at very short notice as we wish to raise awareness of the school mergers across the community and challenge the approach being taken by East Dunbartonshire Council. It is a small group of volunteers and we are looking for others, who feel strongly about the proposed school mergers, to join. You can contact us through email, at pmp@protectmilngavie.com Find out how you can Contact us
Keeping you up to date
Come and join us, and keep up to date on our
Protect Milngavie Facebook page.
