Consultation proposal by Scottish Borders Council
Report by Education Scotland, addressing educational aspects of the proposal
to relocate Duns Primary School and incorporate in the new school a Locality
Support Centre for Berwickshire for pupils with additional needs
1.
Introduction
1.1
Scottish Borders Council proposes to relocate Duns Primary School to a new
location within the site of the former Berwickshire High School. In addition, the
council proposes to incorporate a Locality Support Centre for Berwickshire for
children with additional needs within the proposed new Duns Primary School. As a
result, it is proposed that the current specialist provision at Chirnside Primary and
Coldstream Primary Schools would close.
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 February 2013 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;

consideration of further representations made directly to Education Scotland
on relevant educational aspects of the proposal; and

visits to the sites of Duns Primary School, Coldstream Primary School,
Chirnside Primary School and Berwickshire High 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
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
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
Scottish Borders Council undertook the initial consultation on its proposals
with reference to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.
2.2
The headteacher and staff of Duns Primary School broadly support the
proposal. They feel it will be a better learning environment for the children and
anticipate that it will have a positive impact on ethos and morale of staff and pupils.
Closer proximity to Berwickshire High School is also viewed as positive in terms of
joint working.
The headteachers of Chirnside Primary, Coldstream Primary and Berwickshire High
Schools, along with staff who work in both of the current specialist units, are very
positive about the proposal. They think it will be beneficial to have an educational
support centre in a single location within the Berwickshire Learning Community, and
that this will lead to improved coordination between the various specialist services
who support children whose needs are complex.
A few headteachers would like clarification on how the council planned to address
the increased car parking and traffic management requirements at the proposed site
for the new Duns Primary School. The headteachers of Chirnside Primary and
Coldstream Primary Schools did not agree with the view in the proposal that the
relocation of the specialist units to the new Duns Primary School would significantly
decrease the demand for capital extension in their schools.
2.3
Parents and carers of children who attend the current specialist provision in
Chirnside Primary and Coldstream Primary Schools are positive overall about the
proposal. They feel that their children will benefit from a wider range of facilities and
community activities that will be available in the new location of the Locality Support
Centre. They acknowledge that the change of location will mean more travelling
time daily for a few children, but less for the majority of children at present.
Parents and carers of children attending Duns Primary School are, on the whole,
positive about the proposal. However, there are strong feelings about traffic
management around the entrance to the new school and parking facilities. Some
parents feel that the council has not communicated with them as well as it could
have. They would like to be involved in the ongoing discussions about the
development of the site.
2.4
Children in Duns Primary School are supportive of the move to the new
building although many recognise that they will no longer be at primary school when
it takes place. They feel it will have a positive impact on younger children coming
into the school and that it will be a better environment for learning.
2.5
Duns residents who responded to the consultation are broadly in favour of the
proposal. Many feel that the new Duns Primary School would offer a more modern
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and stimulating environment for learning than children experience currently. The
closer links between the primary and secondary schools will benefit children and
staff in both schools. A few residents, including the Friends of Duns Primary School
group, have concerns about the increased volume of traffic at the proposed site, and
want to know what provision will be made for children and young people to walk or
cycle to school safely. They also have concerns about the proposal to relocate the
Jim Clark Museum within the refurbished Duns Primary building. They seek
clarification on how the safety and security of children will be assured if members of
the public have access to community resources within the building. The council has
indicated that it is willing to work in partnership with Duns residents, staff, children
and parents to ensure that safety and security measures, effective traffic
management solutions and safe walking routes to and from the new site are put in
place.
2.6
At almost all meetings, staff and parents and carers felt that the information
about the proposal that had been communicated with them to date was at a basic
level. All those consulted were extremely keen to be involved fully in any future
planning and design stages of the proposal.
3.
Educational aspects of the proposal
3.1
The re-location of Duns primary school to the new site will undoubtedly lead to
a better learning environment for children and staff. The current Duns primary
school building is in poor condition and space is limited.
Chirnside Primary School currently accommodates a specialist unit for children with
complex needs. However, this building is not fully accessible for users with
disabilities and cannot readily be adapted. The relocation of the specialist unit to a
new and fully accessible Duns Primary building will address this problem.
3.2
Headteachers and staff who work in the specialist provision at Chirnside
Primary and Coldstream Primary Schools feel that the proposed new Locality
Support Centre will provide improved access to services for children and young
people who may, at present, have to travel out with Berwickshire or even Scottish
Borders Council to access the support they require. Staff feel, therefore, that a new
single facility will enable staff and resources to be more efficiently deployed. In
doing so it will provide a service that is accessible to more young people and families
in Berwickshire without the need to travel excessive distances.
3.3
The council’s proposal sets out a range of educational benefits that it sees
arising from the implementation of its proposal. These include the advantages for
children and staff of Duns Primary School having a modern, attractive and flexible
environment for learning; increased opportunities for 3-18 curriculum developments,
including improved facilities for physical education and outdoor learning, and
enhancing transition arrangements between sectors; the provision of improved
community, sports and cultural facilities for the town of Duns; a more efficient,
integrated and inclusive approach to meeting the needs of families and children with
complex needs in a single locality centre. The council states that an educational
benefit of relocating Duns Primary School to the proposed site will be the provision of
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safe access for pedestrians and vehicles, the reduction of congestion in the vicinity
of the school and the provision of safe routes for children to walk to and from school.
However, staff, parents and carers and Duns residents are unclear about how the
council will ensure that this is achieved.
4.
Summary
4.1
The proposal from Scottish Borders Council to relocate Duns Primary School
to a new location within the site of the former Berwickshire High School should have
a positive impact on children’s educational experiences.
The current school buildings at Duns Primary School are in a declining physical state
and opportunities to bring them up to an acceptable standard are not viable.
Refurbishing the former Berwickshire High School, an architecturally listed building,
is a well-considered and positive solution to the council’s phased plans to improve
the school estate and manage changing school rolls efficiently and effectively.
Re-designed, purpose-built accommodation will offer an improved learning
environment for staff and children, with spaces that are versatile and flexible enough
to accommodate different group sizes and will support a variety of teaching styles
and learning activities.
4.2
This proposal is also likely to improve the coordination and provision of
specialist services for children with complex needs who live in Berwickshire. The
creation of a Locality Support Centre on the single site is likely to lead towards better
outcomes for the children, young people who attend it, along with their families.
Learners will have access to a wider range of staff expertise and integrated services
available to them, which can be used flexibly to meet their needs.
4.3
The council needs to continue to engage with staff, children, their parents and
carers and the residents of Duns, in order to keep them well informed and consulted
fully about the proposed changes at future planning and design stages.
HM Inspectors
Education Scotland
April 2013
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