Suport from Iain McGill, our Conservative Parliamentary Candiate

Dear Ms. Tee,

I am aware The City of Edinburgh Council is consulting on proposals to close Fort Primary School.

Having studied your proposals, and heard your reasoning at 2 public meetings with regards to Fort I am deeplyconcerned about your proposal and remain unconvinced that closure would be best way forwards.

Parental choice is important in education – and that it is not being given enough importance in this process –not just in Fort & Trinity Primaries, whose parents are making their preferences clear to all of us, but across the North of Edinburgh were a growing population demands more spaces in the local schools, not less.

Alongside the proposed closure of nearby Royston Primary this leaves no room for manoeuvre for parents who often make different choices for their children’s education than what is prescribed for them by your department. How do you future proof parental choice in the north of the city?

With Fort in particular the building is going to be retained anyhow, and their attainment is well above average when compared to similar schools – it has the potential to be a real success story, and to close it now seems unnecessary.

I am not convinced of your argument that a larger class size with team teaching is a benefit to pupils – who should be at the centre of this whole decision. What is best for the pupils? How does this sit with the Scottish Governments own research [the Class Sizes Working Group] that says for lower attaining children it is vital that they have smaller class sizes than 20, or their literacy falls by a whole year. This suggests to me that the children’s support needs would then increase, not decrease so the assumption that you can provide a better standard of education with less teachers spread around larger classes whilst taking away Positive Action Area status from the pupils does not add up.

I have seen no evidence of a proper consultation with the pupils as recommended by HMIe and the Children’s Commissioner.

Have you followed the Scottish Government guidance on determining capacities – Paragraph 18 of the Circularstates that they will need to consider specialist areas for the teaching of specific subjects – These include Science labs, Sports facilities, Craft workshops, Teaching kitchens, ICT rooms, Music rooms and studios, Art rooms, Libraries, TV, video and multi media rooms, Drama and studios plus other non-classroom areas such as general purpose rooms.

I am extremely concerned at the lack of provision, if this merger goes ahead, of facilities for breakfast club and after school club. The idea of a whole schools worth of pupils being bussed/route marched from Fort to Trinity and back again for their clubs seems ridiculous. As does going into consultation with no clear plan for this – just vague words to reassure us it is being looked at.

I am happy to support the parents alternative proposal, giving capital receipts, revenue savings, allows spare capacity for future growth and gives the pupils the best possible chance in smaller class sizes. In your 2007 document you see similar possibilities:

“Fort Primary is well located to provide integrated early years and community learning and development services in an area of high deprivation and considerable need; and it offers the opportunity to realise the vision of integrated early years and childcare services approved by the Council.” and ”The Fort site offers the opportunity for delivery of an integrated campus with primary school facilities alongside the existing community facilities and enhanced early years service.”

For these reasons I am not able to support your proposal, and would urge you to consider ways to keep the school open, as the parents and children wish.

Yours truly,

Iain McGill

Conservatives Westminster PPC, Edinburgh North & Leith