Parents slam decision to merge Aberdeen schools

Newhills and Bucksburn primary schools to close doors

By Neil Evans political reporter

Published: 12/02/2009

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ABERDEEN parents today hit out at a decision to close their children’s schools and merge them into one.

Aberdeen City Council voted to join classes at Newhills and Bucksburn primary schools into a new building.

The issue was previously considered by an Aberdeen council committee, but had been referred to full council for a final decision.

And Aberdeen parent groups, who spoke at yesterday’s meeting, said they were “bitterly” disappointed with the decision on Newhills and Bucksburn primary schools and claimed Aberdeen City Council had not listened to them.

Neil Minty, chairman of Newhills Parent Council and dad to pupil Hannah, 6, and younger daughter Lucy, 3, said: “They just did not want to listen to what we had to say.

“We are bitterly disappointed at what has been decided.”

Speaking at the meeting Angela Joss from Bucksburn Parent Forum claimed the two schools would be closed to form a “mega-school”.

She added: “What we are asking for is to do what is best for Bucksburn.”

Parents have claimed forming the new school would mean a reduction in quality of teaching because the new school would be too large to look after the children properly.

But Aberdeen council leader Kate Dean rejected claims that the school would be too big.

“I’ve heard this referred to as a ‘mega-school’ but it is very far from that – 300 to 400 people is not a ‘mega-school’,” she said.

“We have said many times that there are 30,000 school places within the city and only 22,000 children, that was one of the things that the Accounts Commission raised as something that should be dealt with urgently.”

Lib Dem councillor Neil Fletcher added: “In my ward I have already lost a nursery and very nearly a school.

“In an ideal world we would refurbish every school in the area, but that is something we can’t do.”

No decision has been taken on whether the new school would be sited on the plot of one of the existing schools or in a new location.

Aberdeen council is now to carry out a study to find out the best place for the new building.

nevans@ajl.co.uk

Reader's Comments

I am quite shocked to read that 300 - 400 pupils is called a mega school, where children are not looked after properly. My children go to Skene Square school, which has over 400 pupils. I have never felt at any time that my children are not looked after properly, in fact, just the opposite. Any problems are sorted out very quickly, and the school achievements are very high. You just need to read the HMIE report to to see what a happy, well run and high achieving school it is. The amount of children in a school do not, in my opinion, make it a better or worse school.
Alison West
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The old line by the council of having 30,000 places and only 22,000 children is wearing thin. Neither Bucksburn nor Newhills can actually take in any more children. So why are these schools being close. There was over 1200 objections logged during this period from locals in the Bucksburn and Newhills communities. One day this council will actually do what the people of Aberdeen want instead of the oligarchy that it seems to be at present.
Billy F
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Alison - Bucksburn has long been a tight-knit community school. We have about 150 pupils or thereabouts. To more than double the size of the school IS a mega-school - for this community. I understand it's not a massive school in comparison to some areas, I myself went to a larger school. One of the main reasons for parents choosing to send their children to Bucksburn is the spirit of the school and the intimacy of the learning experience. This will all certainly be lost in the megaschool.
Billy F
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This was over before it had begun. The consultation was a paper exercise and nothing more, as was suggested at the very first public meeting. I wonder if Lib Dem councillor Neil Fletcher voted for or against the megaschool after having lost the nursery in his constituency and knowing the grief it causes. - I suspect for. The hypocrisy of Aberdeen City Councillors is unequalled in the country.
Billy F
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This overcrowding is just a money saving plot by Aberdeen City Council and unfortunately to the detriment of Aberdeen childrens education.If it affected the Councilors personally perhaps they would`nt be so keen on the amalgamation.Its about time Councilor Dean went back to school to get re-educated about the British education system.Then make a decision.
Stan Domeracki
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