School Estate Consultation

Thursday 19th January 2012

Auchterellon, Ellon

7 - 9pm

The Ellon Network

Ellon Network Profile

1 Academy – Ellon Academy (1061 pupils)11 Primaries – rolls from 14 pupils to 391 pupils

5 schools Accessible Rural3 schools Remote Rural0 schools Very Remote Rural4 schools NOT Rural

Ellon Responses to Survey

• 157 people identified themselves as living in and around Ellon

• 72% are parents, carers or grandparents of Aberdeenshire pupils

Q1 – Schools should clearly be identified within defined communities

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 90%, No 3%, Don’t Know 7%

• Ellon responses – Yes 86%, No 5%, Don’t Know 9%

• Themes from this question:– Importance of school and

community to each other– Important for small communities

Q2 – School buildings should be seen as a focal point for community activities

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 82%, No 7%, Don’t Know 11%

• Ellon responses – Yes 82%, No 7%, Don’t Know 11%

• Themes from this question:– Use of other community buildings– Especially in rural areas– Potential difficulties for using

schools (availability, space not suitable, locking up building)

Q3 – Can grouping smaller schools together as clusters under one Head Teacher be beneficial?

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 25%, No 56%, Don’t Know 19%

• Ellon responses – Yes 30%, No 46%, Don’t Know 24%

• Themes from this question:– Need for a head teacher in

each school– Good idea / Sharing

expertise

Q4 – No primary pupil should be expected to undertake a home-to-school journey of more than 45 minutes

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 93%, No 7%

• Ellon responses – Yes 95%, No 5%

• Themes from this question:– Long journeys tiring for young

children– Rural areas sometimes make

long journeys necessary– Shorter journey times

suggested

Q5 – No individual child should have to be educated in a school with fewer than 3 contemporaries

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 77%, No 23%

• Ellon responses – Yes 71%, No 29%

• Themes from this question:– Development of social skills– Benefits of small schools– More children would be

preferable

Q6 – The viability of schools with rolls of 19 pupils or less should be the subject of careful scrutiny

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 80%, No 20%

• Ellon responses – Yes 74%, No 26%

• Themes from this question:– All schools should be

scrutinised– Difficult for teachers as well as

pupils– Benefit of Small Schools

Q7 – What do you think is the best number of pupils to have in a primary school?

Aberdeenshire responses 0-50 - 8.6%50-100 - 19.1%100-150 - 20.5%150-200 - 23.8%200-300 - 20.6%300-400 - 6.2%400+ - 1.1%

Ellon responses0-50 - 14.3%50-100 - 22.1%100-150 - 13.6%150-200 - 25.0%200-300 - 20.7%300-400 - 4.3%400+ - 0.0%

•Themes from this question:Class sizesBenefit of small schoolsJust the right size for everyone to know each other

Q8 – Any town school operating below 66% of its current capacity within a town also operating at less than 75% capacity should be scrutinised

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 68%, No 32%

• Ellon responses – Yes 65%, No 35%

• Themes from this question:– Future Roll Forecasts– Financial Viability– Overcrowding in schools

Q9 – Any school building whose condition or fitness for purpose is cause for concern should be assessed for options available

• Aberdeenshire responses– Yes 96%, No 4%

• Ellon responses – Yes 95%, No 5%

• Themes from this question:– Refurbishment and repair– Repair not closure– Quality of Education

Q10 – Do you feel that school zones in Aberdeenshire should be reviewed?

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 61%, No 39%

• Ellon responses – Yes 59%, No 41%

• Themes from this question:– Regular reviews needed– Parental Choice versus

Enforcing Catchment Areas– Cross Boundary Zones

Q11 – Are you aware that schools with less than 70 pupils are in receipt of a rural grant from the Scottish Government?

• Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 14%, No 86%

• Ellon responses – Yes 23%, No 77%

• Themes from this question:– More information requested

Q12 – Rank the issues in the order most important to you

Themes:

School’s Place in Community and Condition of School Buildings are given equal importance in Ellon Response

Aberdeenshire Response Ellon Response

Q13 – Other issues to considered• Aberdeenshire themes:

– Quality of Teaching and Education– Importance of Rural Communities– Changing demographics and need for planning– Facilities within schools, accessibility and school grounds– Class sizes

• Ellon themes:– Rural Sustainability– Quality of Teaching and Education– Early Years– School Grounds and facilities in buildings

Over to you!