Consultation proposal by North Lanarkshire Council Report by Education Scotland, addressing educational aspects of the proposal by North Lanarkshire Council to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School. 1. Introduction 1.1 North Lanarkshire Council proposes to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the building currently used by Cumbernauld High School. The proposal also includes the option to build a new school on the Cumbernauld High School site in the future. At the time of the consultation, there were no specific details available on the exact nature of the new build. 1.2 The report from Education Scotland is required under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. It has been prepared by HM Inspectors in accordance with the terms of the Act. 1.3 HM Inspectors undertook the following activities in considering the educational aspects of the proposal: attendance at the public meeting held on 25 October 2012 at Cumbernauld High School in connection with the council’s proposals; consideration of all relevant documentation provided by the council in relation to the proposal, specifically the educational benefits statement and related consultation documents, written and oral submissions from parents and others; and visits to the sites of Abronhill High School, Cumbernauld High School, Abronhill Primary School, Whitelees Primary School, Cumbernauld Primary School, Kildrum Primary School, Carbrain Primary School and Ravenswood Primary School, including discussion with relevant consultees. 1.4 HM Inspectors considered: the likely effects of the proposal for children and young people of the schools; any other users; children likely to become pupils within two years of the date of publication of the proposal paper; and other children and young people in the council area; any other likely effects of the proposal; how the council intends to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from the proposal; and 1 benefits which the council believes will result from implementation of the proposal, and the council’s reasons for coming to these beliefs. 2. Consultation process 2.1 North Lanarkshire Council undertook the initial consultation on its proposals with reference to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The consultation included an invitation for written submissions and public meetings held at Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on 24 and 25 October 2012. The council also sought the views of children and young people affected by the proposal at each school. 2.2 At the public meetings and in the large number of responses received by the council as part of the consultation process, there was significant opposition to the proposal. These concerns related to the timescale for the proposal, the safety of young people walking from the Abronhill area to Cumbernauld High School, transition issues including for children and young people with additional support needs and the educational benefits set out by the council based on the possibility of a future new build. In addition, concerns were expressed about the impact of closing Abronhill High School on the local community of Abronhill. 2.3 Almost all parents of children from each of the schools had significant concerns about the proposal. They expressed concerns about the short timescale for implementing the proposal and the possible impact this would have on their children’s education. They were particularly concerned about the route that young people from the Abronhill area would have to take when walking to Cumbernauld High School. In their view, this route was unsafe for young people as it was through a densely wooded area which was poorly lit and not sufficiently close to a residential area. Parents were also concerned that the educational benefits set out in the proposal related mainly to a new build school which was not guaranteed and may not be ready until around 2016. Many parents were unclear about the benefits of the proposal for young people attending the existing campus at Cumbernauld High School from August 2013. 2.4 A few parents felt that the proposal may offer their children a broader range of subjects to study at school. However, most parents were very concerned about the different curricular structures operating in each high school and how this would impact on their children’s education. They were concerned about the lack of time for their children and staff to prepare for working together and how the introduction of the new national qualifications as set out in Curriculum for Excellence would impact on their children’s achievements. Parents also expressed concerns about transition for young people with additional learning needs across all of the schools and specifically for those who currently attend the Language and Communication Support Centre (LCSC) at Cumbernauld High School. 2.5 Overall, children and young people from across the schools were not in favour of the proposal. A few were positive about the possibility of making new friends and studying a wider range of subjects in a larger school. However, they expressed 2 significant concerns about the proposal. They were particularly worried about the safety of young people walking from Abronhill to Cumbernauld High School. Children and young people’s concerns related to the distance, nature of the route and the possibility of disagreements between young people from each community. Older young people were concerned about the impact of the proposal on their learning and how it would affect their attainment and achievements. They were also concerned about the impact of closing Abronhill High School on the local community. 2.6 Overall, staff from each of the schools were not in favour of the proposal. They were particularly concerned about the timescale involved and how they could ensure the successful transition for all young people and minimise any disruption to their learning. Staff from Cumbernauld High School were particularly concerned about the impact of the proposal on those young people who attend the LCSC. They felt that they would require careful transition for any change in their education and that the increase in pupil and staff numbers would require careful planning. Staff from both high schools were concerned about the different curriculum structures being offered by each school and they expressed concerns about how this would impact on their progress in implementing Curriculum for Excellence and new National Qualifications. Staff were also concerned about managing larger numbers of young people and how this would impact on available accommodation in, for example, home economics and physical education and also on class sizes. 3. Educational aspects of the proposal 3.1 Both Cumbernauld High School and Abronhill High School are operating at just over fifty percent occupancy and are therefore underutilised. The council sets out in its proposal that both schools are not cost effective and the rationalisation would bring savings that could be reinvested or used to help minimise savings elsewhere in the council. It also states that this proposal would be the best opportunity to invest in a new build school. The council acknowledges that some renovation work would be required at the existing Cumbernauld High School. Cumbernauld High School has been graded B (good) in terms of the condition of the building. Council officials have acknowledged that inaccurate and conflicting information was provided about the building condition in another council report where it was graded C (poor). The information available in the consultation report is accurate. 3.2 The Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out clearly the duties of a council with regard to its educational benefits statement. A significant number of the points covered within the range of educational benefits set out in the council’s proposal relate specifically to the benefits to young people who would attend a new build school. There are no firm plans available for this new build which the council indicates may not be available until around 2016. As a result, the educational benefits associated with this aspect of the proposal are not valid for children and young people who would be affected by this proposal from August 2013. As a result, the council’s proposal does not address sufficiently the educational benefits for young people who would attend the existing Cumbernauld High School campus from summer 2013. 3 3.3 The proposal sets out some other educational benefits. These relate mainly to providing greater flexibility in grouping young people and widening the range of choices available to them. The increase in pupil and staff numbers particularly in S5 and S6 would enable this to happen. Young people would benefit from an increase in available subject options, particularly at the senior stages. At present, young people attending both schools benefit from opportunities to learn in different ways including in smaller and larger groups. In addition, they benefit from a range of staff skills which supports their learning and development in a variety of ways. The inspection of Abronhill High School (March 2009) noted strengths in the relationships between staff and young people and the opportunities for broader achievement. The council also states that there would be a greater range of staff skills available for young people. However, the proposal does not make this aspect sufficiently clear including particular areas that would be of further benefit to young people over and above those benefits that they currently have. 3.4 The council’s proposal sets out particular benefits for those young people who attend the LCSC. In particular, the council suggests that young people would benefit from further integration in to mainstream classes. Currently almost all young people are fully integrated in to classes in Cumbernauld High School and therefore the council’s proposal does not set out clearly what further benefit this would offer to these young people. In addition, the proposal does not take sufficient account of the possible effects of changes within Cumbernauld High School for young people who attend the LCSC and how these may impact on their learning. 3.5 The timescale outlined in the council’s proposal raises a number of important issues that need further consideration. At most, young people, parents and staff will have around four months to prepare for the closure of Abronhill High School and the transfer of young people and staff to Cumbernauld High School. This offers very limited time to ensure careful transition planning for all young people as well as support for those transferring from primary school to S1. Young people with additional support needs and those with autism in particular require careful planning which takes account of advice from partner agencies to prepare them for significant changes to their educational environment. Given the time remaining, staff and parents are very concerned that they do not have sufficient time left to prepare young people properly for this change. As it stands, it is possible that the proposal may have a detrimental impact on these young people. 3.6 Young people who would attend Cumbernauld High School from the Abronhill area will have a distance of around three miles to travel to school. There are two routes that would be available, one of which involves a main road with no footpath and the other is through a densely wooded and poorly lit area. The council makes brief mention of transport to school in the proposal. However, it will need to consider carefully young people’s safety when travelling to school and provide greater assurances to parents and young people about how it will ensure young people’s safety. 3.7 Abronhill High School is currently used for both out-of-schools hours clubs run by the school and for community groups and activities each evening. The proposal does not give sufficient consideration to the impact of closing the school on the local 4 community. Further consideration also needs to be given to how Cumbernauld High School would ensure young people’s access to out-of-school hours clubs and activities given the distance from Abronhill to Cumbernauld High School and the matters noted in relation to the walking route. 4. Summary 4.1 The proposal from North Lanarkshire Council to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School addresses the under capacity issues in the school estate and would also help the council achieve budget savings. However, it offers a limited number of educational benefits to those children and young people immediately affected by the proposal in 2013. These benefits relate mainly to the provision of a broader range of subjects for young people, particularly at S5 and S6. However, the proposal may have a detrimental impact on the education of some young people, particularly those with additional support who require careful transition planning. This will need further consideration by the council including taking advice from partner agencies about planning for young people with additional learning needs. In addition, there are a number of significant issues which the council will need to consider further if it decides to proceed with the proposal in its current form. This includes providing greater clarity about how it intends to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from this proposal. 4.2 A significant part of the council’s proposal relates specifically to the benefits of a new build school. There are no firm plans available for this new build which the council indicates may not be available until around 2016. The proposal does not address sufficiently the educational benefits for young people who would attend the existing Cumbernauld High School campus from summer 2013. 4.3 The proposal is opposed by a significant number of stakeholders including children and young people, parents, staff and the local community. Stakeholders are justifiably concerned about the timescale for implementation and the lack of evidence on possible detriment to young people’s education. The concerns raised about the walking route to Cumbernauld High School are also justified and the council now needs to provide young people and their parents with clearer information on how it will ensure young people’s health and safety. In doing so, they should consider carrying out a full risk assessment of the walking routes and possible alternatives. 4.4 In relation to the concerns raised in this report and in the absence of any detailed plans for a new school, HM Inspectors are not confident that the current proposal to rationalise Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools on to one campus by closing Abronhill High School at the end of session 2012/13 and transferring young people to the existing Cumbernauld High School would ensure immediate educational benefits for children and young people in 2013. HM Inspectors Education Scotland January 2013 5