West Lothian parents force question on new high school
Parents in a West Lothian village have won a concession to consider a new high school for their rapidly expanding community.
A two-hour debate in the council’s Education Executive led to the ruling Labour minority- led administration including the option in an upcoming consultation.
Welcoming the change the opposition SNP group said Labour had “caved-in” in the face of a powerful parent led campaign for a new East Calder High School. The party’s own amendment calling for a much deeper commitment to a new school was defeated.
Chair of the Executive, Councillor Andrew McGuire said the meeting lost sight of what councillors were being asked to decide. He accused the SNP of “political posturing” adding the opposition had never- in nine years- promoted plans for a new high school in the village.
The council plans to ask parents for their views on sending Calderwood children to either Winchburgh Academy or the James Young High School in Livingston as part of planned changes in two years time.
A deputation led by Niamh Barton-Maynard brought detailed questions over the lack of consultation with local families- many of whom bought homes believing a new high school would eventually be built. A site for a school had been earmarked.
She questioned the legality of the council using developer contributions to fund an extension of West Calder High School- to then stop Calderwood children attending.
She said the local community council has been excluded. “The narrow framing of the proposed consultation means the community that they represent has no formal route to comment on or engage with the council prior decision not to proceed with an East Calder High School.”
That exclusion meant the “ process cannot be democratic” she said.
Mrs Barton-Maynard told the meeting that many parents felt angry at being presented with such a binary choice of the Winchburgh or Livingston option.
She said the decision taken provided only short term answers as both the Winchburgh and the James Young schools would likely have to be extended.
Education Planning Officer Andrew Cotton told the meeting that a decision to build a new high school would be one for the full council, rather than by council officers.
While a new school had been included as a potential option in the Local Development Plan as far back as 2009 no decision had been taken.
Officials said that a new high school could potentially cost £80-90m whereas an extension to existing schools would be in the region of £25m .
The funding of new schools at Winchburgh had happened because development plans for that Core Development Area were in place at the time when funding could be secured through Scottish Government. Section 75 developer and wider funding could also be brought into place.
After a break the Labour group brought back a motion which proposed to include…. “ two further Options: 1) an East Calder High School, and 2) a West Calder High School.”
The SNP amendment put forward by Councillor Veronica Smith, called for: “officers to undertake a transparent study to determine the feasibility of a new East Calder High School …that takes into account the future developments within East Calder and the surrounding communities to 2036.”
It called on the council to: “Provide a range of costings for a new East Calder High school, the cost of an extension to James Young High and Winchburgh High School, as well as the school transportation costs for each option.”
Seconding the amendment Councillor Moira McKee-Shemilt expressed welcome and surprise at Labour’s motion, suggesting the party had “caved-in”.
Conservative Peter Heggie said the motion meant “we are not that far apart”.
Labour veteran Tom Conn thanked the deputation for their presentation and the officers for their responses. He added what was presented by the SNP “sullies that presentation with political name calling.”
Labour’s motion won by 15 votes to five.
Councillor McGuire, an Independent, told the meeting: “I think we have lost sight about what this paper is asking us to decide.
“This paper is asking us to instruct the council officers to go out and consult on a pre-consultation, and nothing more . There’s comments about residents only finding out on Facebook about there’s not to be an East Calder High school. The paper doesn’t set out anything like that.
“ The decisions we are being asked to take are about going out to talk to the communities about what options are available.
He added: “It is incumbent on us in a time of financial strain to make the best uses of assets available. If in the future there was some need or desire for a new high school, then that’s always going to be an option.”
Councillor McGuire added: “ I have sat on the council for nine years and I can never at any capital budget remember an SNP group motion coming forward with proposals for financing an East Calder High School so I’m a bit perplexed by why all of a sudden that this became the issue of the day. I suggest that’s nothing more than political posturing.
“The Labour group listened to residents and expanded the consultation. I hope this takes us further along the road to finding a happy and settled place for those current primary sixes at Calderwood so they know where they will be starting their secondary school.”