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