Pupils have trouble crossing road

It has been brought to the council's attention the problem pupils are having crossing the road during the morning rush.

The junction in question, the Woodhill, Wester Cledden Road T-junction. Wester Cleddens Road is very busy and traffic queuing to join it from Woodhill Road make it almost impossible for pupils to cross safely.

Within minutes large groups of children struggle to stay on the pavement.

The council have promised to investigate and I will let you know the results as soon as I have them.

Meanwhile let's hope it's resolved before any incident occurs.

Comment received...

"Yes, this crossing looks very dangerous, more so in the afternoon when there is a 'rush' of pupils all at the same time. Because of the density of traffic there is no opportunity for kids to cross without having to cross between cars waiting to turn right and cars have to pull up suddenly when turning into Woodhill Road from Wester Cleddens Rd and are confronted with groups of ten or fifteen pupils. The pupils themselves are doing their best, but I wouldn't attempt to cross here at that time of day as an adult.

We're still waiting - I understand that the council are investigating. Let's hope they don't take too long.
Now a month later and nothing has been done....

Comment sent to the site...

I received this comment - I think it is very important...

"Below is the letter that the Council claim shows that the School Board supports the Thomas Muir site.

The Interim School Board did not actually respond during the consultation period which ended in May, so strictly speaking their response should not have been included along with those School Boards who took the trouble to submit their thoughts before the deadline.

At no time did the School Board actually solicit the views of the parents it is supposed to represent. The letter even says it is THEIR OWN thoughts - not the parents!!

The letter also makes it clear that the Builders had only SUGGESTED that there would be benefits, which as we all know are in short supply even now that the convenient cloak of secrecy has been partly removed from the proposal. The real benefits are to the Builders bottom line...not the pupils of the future generations of Bishopbriggs.

The second last paragraph even states that the benefits have still to be proven.

Therefore if Sandy McGarvie and the Lib Dems are taking this as support for this decision they are on shaky ground. No change there then!

It should be noted also that a School Board survey of those taking part in the Human Chain showed that no one was concerned with 'House Prices'. The main concerns were Parking, pupils’ safety and the distance to school.

As the Academy is a new entity shouldn't there be fresh elections for a new School Board....one that asks parents and listens to their concerns rather than apparently representing themselves or their employers."

The letter that the board sent to councillors....

16 June 2006



Dear Councillor,

PROPOSED SITE OF BISHOPBRIGGS ACADEMY

We are writing to you in our position as joint Chairs of the Interim School Board for Bishopbriggs Academy to express our views on the proposed site for the new school.

It has come to the notice of the Board that a pressure group purporting to be the voice of the majority of residents of Woodhill is holding a demonstration on Saturday 17th June 2006. The purpose of this demonstration is to voice concern regarding the possible site of the new school on the grounds of Thomas Muir High School.

In light of this information, we feel that it is the duty of the elected school board to voice our own thoughts on where the new school should be built.

During this process over the past couple of years, various proposals have been put forward and it is fair to say that members of both the Bishopbriggs High School Board and Thomas Muir High School Board were of the opinion that the new school should be built at their own respective site.

As you know the majority of parents and responses to the Council were that the new school should be built at the Bishopbriggs High site. However, the builders have now suggested that they would be able to build a bigger and better facility at the Thomas Muir site. This suggestion has caused some consternation amongst this pressure group as they do not want a school built in ‘their backyard’. This view does not seem to take into account that fact that there is already a school on that site and has been for the past 28 years.

It is fair to say that initially the Interim Board was divided on this issue until clarification was sought from the Council regarding the proposed significant educational benefits that would be gained from building at Thomas Muir. The response included the following points:

• A safer and more secure educational environment
• Increased external sports facilities
• Clearer site lines for supervision
• Improved access
• Less traffic congestion
• Located in a residential area away from noise pollution
• A better sense of community
• A social hub that is flat and not vertically stacked
• A flat topography ensuring maximum quality of design
• A design that is not constrained by the physical barriers of the site (i.e. the existing private nursery and former janitor’s house at the Bishopbriggs site)


Following on from receiving this information it became the view of the Interim Board that it was the duty of all concerned to build the best possible school at the best possible site. If the Council decided to build on the Thomas Muir site if this met the criteria then that would indeed provide the best possible educational facility for the children and residents of Bishopbriggs for the next 30 years.

It is fair to say that the Board is concerned regarding the actions of the pressure group that do not seem to have the best interests of the children at heart and are only driven to ensure that the school is not built on their doorstep thus possibly reducing the value of their homes. This argument is flawed and blinkered. The Board is concerned that some councillors are taking the view that the pressure group speak for the majority of Bishopbriggs residents when in actual fact they are not.

The opportunity to build a brand new school and community facility does not come along everyday. This is the one and only chance we will have to create a fantastic educational facility of the highest standard for the pupils and residents of Bishopbriggs for the next 30 or so years.

The Board would urge that the councillors do not vote to assuage the voices of a few who are blinkered in the views and that the decision is taken to build the new school on the best possible site. If that is proven to be the site at Thomas Muir then that is where the new school should be built.

The children of Bishopbriggs deserve the best school possible and only if the Council select the BEST site will they actually get what they deserve.


Yours sincerely



William Graham
Carol Johnstone

Co-Chairs
Interim School Board
Bishopbriggs Academy

The letter has been published under the school boards legal responsibility as stated in school board legislation ...

Legal responsibilities

Public and parents have right of access to meetings and to documentation

Parents hit out at new school arrangements

"Pupils wait while teachers are bussed in"

From Alister Mackay's story in this weeks Bishopbriggs Herald...

"Bishopbriggs Academy pupils are having to stand in the playground while teachers are bussed back and forward between buildings."

Both sites have rearranged their timetable to allow 15 minutes between periods to accommodate these transfers.

One concerned mother said: "...it seems neither the teachers or pupils know what is going on."

Another mum said: "It's absolutely awful... Our children's education is suffering because of this and it really seems that the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing."

The head teacher has assured parents they are working to make sure pupils don't lose any class time.

The head teacher had this to say: "Under no circumstances would pupils be asked to go outside if it was either cold or wet."

"Yes, there is often a waiting time, but this has been kept to a minimum and this will only be untill all the pupils are together in October."

Other concerned parents have contact John Simmons (Head of Education) directly over the new time table arrangements.

School Board Letter

Update to the Press Release post

On Tuesday 29th August Mr McGarvey called to say he stands by the Press Release - that the interim school board agreed with the council decision, before the council had made it.

Here is what happened...

At a school board meeting, (you can check the minutes) on 22nd May, a point is noted about a protest 'human chain' event. No mention of any letter being sent.

Four weeks later, 16th June, a letter was sent to all councillors from the joint chairs of the Interim school board. During this four weeks, despite, all but one, of the board members having e-mail, myself and other board members were never consulted on its contents.
As soon as I received this letter, I sent a reply stating my disagreement with several points it was trying to make. Points that were later to prove inaccurate.
The letter contained the 'bidders' reasons they decided the proposed school on the Thomas Muir site was better.
At this stage, and to this day, as far as I am aware, none of the Interim school board have seen the design of the school proposed on the Thomas Muir site.

Yet, the council press release, says that the interim school board agreed with the council that it was better than the school proposed on the Bishopbriggs High site!

You can decide if this course of events took place for a specific reason - myself and Sandy McGarvey agree to differ on this point.

...end update

School Board and Parents

Information from the School Board Scotland web site...

"It is a legal requirement that the School Board regularly consults parents on matters which the School Board is considering.

Were the parents consulted before this letter was sent, the council say it supported their decision (see above).
I was on the board and I wasn't consulted, were you?

Again from the web site.

The School Board should consider the following questions...

Does your Board have a clearly defined role?

Have you shared these aims with parents?

How representative is your Board?

What is your relationship with the school?

Is the Board represented on the PTA and does the PTA report at the meetings of the School Board?

Do you liaise on matters of mutual interest such as fund-raising, social events and communications?

Who has responsibility for communication with parents?

How successful have you been communicating with parents?

How often do you attempt to reach parents?

How often do you talk with the teachers?

Do parents know about Board meetings and minutes?

Do parents attend meetings?

Are meetings advertised in advance?

Are there photographs of the School Board alongside the management team in the entrance hall?

All meetings of a School Board must be open to the public. You are expected to advertise, in some way, every meeting of your School Board in order to ensure that parents and members of the local community know when, where and at what time a meeting will take place and so allow them to attend, if they so wish.

Legal responsibilities

Public and parents have right of access to meetings and to documentation (ask to see the letter)

Next meeting is 7pm - Wednesday 30th August in Bishopbriggs Academy - not sure which one.

Jo Swinson wanted school on Bishopbriggs High Site

MP Jo Swinson, disagreed with her Lib Dem councillor colleagues decision to move the site of the new Bishopbriggs Academy.

While she agreed that the Thomas Muir site did have some advantages, better sporting facilities and better arrangements during construction. She felt that the views of the people of Bishopbriggs, the central location of the site, at Bishopbriggs High, offer a community resource that weighed more heavily than a move to the Thomas Muir site.

Sadly, like the result of the consultation with the people of Bishopbriggs, the council decide to move the school to a site on the outskirts of the town.

A site with no local park, not near the town library, no large shopping centre nearby, fewer transport links. It does have a dangerous road linking it to Cadder, the quickest route to the site, but that route is not recognised by the council (see below).

But it is flat, square, and easier to build on than the High School site!


Picture supplied by the Lib Dems

August 2008 slips to 2009?

In a letter to parents, dated 23rd June, the head teacher announced...

"...the new Bishopbriggs Academy which, as you know, is due to open in August 2008."

In the Bishopbriggs Herald (23rd August, page 9) a council spokesperson said:

"Bishopbriggs Academy is scheduled to be built on the site of Thomas Muir High by the beginning of 2009."

Have the council announced any reason for the slippage?

Comments

After a lot of requests I have allowed comments...

Please remember that anyone can read these 'comments'.

Comments do NOT represent my opinion but that of the sender.

Press release

In a press release issued by East Dunbartonshire council on the 7th of August announcing the councils decision on the new schools. They close with these paragraphs...

" The detail of this alternative option was scrutinised by the Council’s Educations Quality Development Service and external advisers who found the TMHS site to be more advantageous in terms of educational benefits...

...Teaching unions, the EIS and SSTA agreed with this view as did a majority of the associated Primary School Boards. The interim School Board for Bishopbriggs Academy also supports this view.

As a serving member of the board until the last meeting I would like to know where this information came from. The school board did NOT know the councils decision until the same day as the public.

How can you agree with something you don't know about?

I called Claire Robertson and asked her where this information came from.

Claire called to inform me that Sandy McGarvey had approved the Press Release on the grounds that a letter sent by the Interim School Board backed this statement. Mr McGarvey was unavailable for comment.

See update School Board Letter... post

The Board did not know the council decision until the same day as the public, weeks after the letter was sent. Therefore, the Council position is, the Board agreed to decision before the council made one!

I was angry when the letter was emailed to myself, and other Board members, after it had been sent. I pointed out the letter was questionable and my comments were later backed up by statistics gathered by another Board member.

I understand that Board correspondence is available in the public domain, once that is clarified I will post it here then you can decide for yourself.

more to come...

The press release is published on several web sites including the ipfa and pfi here.

Future use of the Bishopbriggs High School site

Alistair Laing contacted me with his view on the future use of the Bishopbriggs High School site...

"My next concern is regarding the future use of the Bishopbriggs High School Campus and in particular with the new Sports Hall.

I have been invloved to a minor extent with local youth football for some time. All the clubs are always looking for a gymnasium during the winter months to use in the evening. I am sure there are other organisations that could utilise this facility.

There are a number of football pitches (although none in Bishopbriggs) that have been covered with third Generation Astro Turf. Contained within this pitch are three smaller pitches that run across the pitch. These are excellent and I am sure could be utilised for other purposes.

At least one of the pitches adjacent to the Gym could be similarly upgraded.

I have contacted the planning department and my Councillor to ascertain their intentions for this site. I am waiting for a reply and will let you know what the reply is when I get it."

Maybe they'll read this and reply, I know (IP address logging) that this site is visited often by the council!

Proposed school on Bishopbriggs High site

For all the people who were not privilege to see the proposed school that could have been built on the High School site.

The build would have taken place while the existing school was in use, the same as other builds within the project.

I, along with others that viewed the InspirED school, were amazed at the superb use of space, the light open areas, the sports halls and dinning area with it's glass walls. Two pitches and basketball courts, ample parking and the central atrium.

It's a pity the public were not invited to view the designs.

I can assure you both designs for the site met all the criteria the council asked for.

Eric Gotts letter to the Herald

I have sent the follow letter to councillor Gotts...

"In your letter you again repeat that the interim school board supported the council decision.

This statement is false.

I was a member of the board at the time - how could the school board support a decision before the council had made one?

The last meeting of the board was on 28th June, the council's decision was kept secret until the Scottish Executive had been informed.

The letter sent to councillors regarding the Woodhill Action Group was not shown to board members before it was sent and did not represent the view of all members.

I welcome your comments on how the board supported the council decision before they knew what that decision was."

I look forward to his reply. It's now November and he has not replied.

Councillor Gotts letter included this statement...

"...the new build would have been on the existing playing fields, with very little space for pupil movement on the rest of the site"

Can councillor Gotts name another school that is being rebuilt where this is not the case?

Maybe St Ninian's - but they'll be on the Thomas Muir site while the Bishopbriggs Academy is built - on the playing fields!

Row rumbles on

This week's Bishopbriggs Herald has another new school story on page one.

With more quotes from a council spokesperson on educational benefits of the Thomas Muir site...

"At a time when child obesity is such a big issue, the availability of exercise is very important and is a definite educational benefit."

A school in the centre of the town, that is within walking distance for most pupils, would be better than one built on the outskirts. Parents may chose to drive their children to the new school, will that combat obesity? Was obesity part of the educational decision? - I'll check when I see the minutes in September.

"Likewise, airier rooms with more natural light and the flexibility of layout offered by the Thomas Muir site will also improve the learning environment..."

An enclosed courtyard design (the one the council chose) offers LESS light than the open design proposed on the High School site.

"Westerhill Road is not recognised by the council as a safe walking route..."

That's OK then, so the children won't use it?

The future of the £1 million sport hall (opened in 2002) is uncertain. A council spokesperson said they could not make any firm comment on the future of the facility.

Why? They own it, and the land - why can they not make the availability of the hall a pre requisite to any sale?

Location, Location, Location

Where's the best site for a school in Bishopbriggs?

The one nearest the town centre?
The one close to amenities?
The one the people of Bishopbriggs chose?
The one where the best schools in Bishopbriggs have stood for over forty years?

or the one that the council decide?

First time here?

Welcome - Remember to use the Archive option on the right to see older posts.

Please contact me with any comments.

Thank you to everyone for your fantastic support since this web site was launched.

It's just a pity the council rejected the strength of public feeling when they voted to build Bishopbriggs Academy on the Thomas Muir site.

'Comments' are now active on ALL posts.

Adaptation not ready?

After seven weeks holiday, and despite assurances that adaptations would be ready, I have been told that they have still to be completed.

Including setting up Computers for Graphic Communications at both the High School and Technical Studies department on the Thomas Muir site.

Extra in service day...

The councils reason for the extra day's holiday appears in this week's (22nd August) edition of the Bishopbriggs Herald.

It includes this statement...

"The delay in re-opening was because a number of adaptations were carried out inside the schools during the holiday period"

I have written to the head teacher asking if this is the case.... I spoke to him yesterday and he has assured me that everything is complete on both sites.

"no pupil who returned to school June would have suffered with regard to falling behind or not starting any courses."

He also wished that parents would contact him directly with any concerns they may have.

Please tell me if you know of any other issues parents should be aware of.

What now for the Primary schools?

With only one non-denominational secondary in Bishopbriggs what does the future hold for the five feeder primary schools?

This graph show the predicted rolls, after roll capping (dotted line), from figures supplied by the council (February 2004).

large version here

Will all five remain after the new Bishopbriggs Academy opens?

If there are closures what will happen to the staff and land?

Ask your councillor.

Parent accuses council of school cover-up

Excerpts from the August 16th edition of the Bishopbriggs Herald.

Call for private school meeting to be made public

Parent accuses council of school cover-up

"An irate parent is claiming East Dunbartonshire Council is covering up how the decision was made on where to site the new Bishopbriggs Academy."

The minutes of the 'private' meeting will not be made public until the end of 2006.

I contacted the council to clarify this...

They confirmed that inline with council procedure the minutes of council meetings are not made public until they have been passed at the next council meeting. This will take place on 28th September (four months from the last meeting).

If anyone questions the minute this may delay their publication further.

As the council said in their answer to me...

Perhaps that gap has given the wrong impression about publication of the minutes...

I totally agree... only the council can change that opinion.

Mr McMillan asked how much the consultations cost, this also goes unanswered.

Councillor Alex Hannah had this to say about the meeting...

"...the meeting was one of the most undemocratic he has ever taken part in."

"...we were given a book which had all the responses to the consultation in it, but that was put to one side and the only things discussed were the commercial benefits of either site."

"...I thought the opinions of the parents and community would be given equal weighting with the commercial benefits, but that didn't happen."

"...The overwhelming majority of public opinion was against the move to the Thomas Muir site, but those views were given no consideration"

See this post

The vote on where to site Bishopbriggs Academy was split 12 votes for and 12 votes against.

The Provost holds the casting vote and voted with her Lib Dem councillors to built the school on the Thomas Muir site.
Thus allowed the project to be completed in two years, another commercial consideration?

The reason for the 'private' meeting was given as commercial sensitivity regarding the preferred bidder.

As this is now in the public domain I can see no reason for all 'non financial' information from the minutes to be published.

Contact your councillor and ask why you cannot see the minutes until the end of the year.

Their details are here .

Board members Bishopbriggs Academy

List of current (August 2006) school board members and previous school board membership...

Ms Johnstone, Thomas Muir
Ms McDougall, Thomas Muir
Mr Aitken, Thomas Muir
Mr Willox, Thomas Muir
Mr Sirel, Thomas Muir
Mr Ingram, Thomas Muir
Ms Cadden, Thomas Muir

Ms Stewart, Bishopbriggs High
Ms Graham, Bishopbriggs High
Mr Low, Bishopbriggs High
Mr Hewitt, Bishopbriggs High

Contact details are available from the School

As you can see with the recent resignations the board now consists of 7 Thomas Muir board members and 4 from the High School board.

Please note from the minutes of school board meeting 3rd November 2005...

"Parental Involvement Bill

In July 2006 the Bill will become an Act. It is anticipated that parent councils will replace school boards. The format will have to be decided. Emphasis will be on the parent side as opposed to the teaching side. There will be a transitional period to phase out boards."

The size of the School Board is set down by law.



The Headteacher

The Headteacher is not a member of the Board but does have a right to be present and to speak at Board meetings, and to act in an advisory capacity on any matter that falls within the Board's remit. How this works in practice may vary from Board to Board. It is for Boards to reach their own decisions, taking account of the advice given to them by their Headteachers.

The current board set-up has to be agreed with the Scottish Executive as it is larger than the law allows.

Contract details

Financial close is expected during January 2007.

Bidders were InspirED (Amec) and Axiom (Laing ORourke, ABN Amro.)

Project Value (Estimated) £100,000,000

Start Date: Jan/Feb, 2007 Contract Period: 24 Months

Bearsden Academy
£19m - 1,200 pupils - 11,733 square metres
Cost per pupil = £15,833

Bishopbriggs HS/Thomas Muir HS rebuild*
£19.4m - 1,200 pupils - 11,733 square metres
Cost per pupil = £16,166

Douglas Academy
£18.1m - 1,050 pupils - 11,384 square metres
Cost per pupil = £17,238

Kirkintilloch HS
£16.2m - 850 pupils - 9,327 square metres
Cost per pupil = £19,058

St. Ninians HS
£15.8m - 850 pupils - 9,327 square metres
Cost per pupil = £18,588

Turnbull HS
£13.8m - 650 pupils - 8,188 square metres
Cost per pupil = £20,769

If everything stays 'as above' the project would appear to be £2.3million over budget before they start!

It's interesting to compare the number of pupils and cost per site.

*I understand that the costs include the complex decant and the demolition and preparation of both sites at Bishopbriggs.

Let's hope they update this part of the contract information...

"Thomas Muir High School and Bishopbriggs High School -04428859- will be amalgamated with one new school being put on the Bishopbriggs High School site (South Crosshill Rd, Bishopbriggs, G64 2NN )"

Information source here on the Glenigan site.

Plans

East Dunbartonshire Council
Tom Johnston House Civic Way, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, Strathclyde, G66 4TJ
Tel: 0141 578 8000 Fax: 0141 777 8576
email: general@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
Contact: Mr Gordon Currie , Project Manager

Back to school

In a letter dated 27th June 2006 from John Simmons (head of education) advising parents of the Council decision, the last paragraph says...

"The arrangements for your child(ren) returning to school in August 2006 have not altered and are as previously communicated to you."

In August 2006 you will have received a letter from the new headteacher including the section...

"Structural Refurbishment / Additional In-Service Day

... This means that the return date for pupils is Tuesday 22nd August not as previously stated Monday 21st August. "

23rd June - head teachers letter to parents

...we are determined that there will be no detrement to pupils' experience during the 'interim' phase"

Reported in the Bishopbriggs Herald August 2nd 2006.

Please mail me if you have any comments on this.

New school day

Between August and October both the Bishopbriggs and Thomas Muir schools will be used. this will require teaching staff to travel between the schools during term time and the timetable has been changed to allow this...

First, second, fifth and sixth year will attend the former Bishopbriggs site.

Third and fourth year will attend the former Thomas Muir site.

The school day will start earlier and finish later with a shorter lunch break.

Period 1 8.55 - 9.47
15 minutes break

Period 2 10.02 - 10.54
15 minutes break

Period 3 11.09 - 12.01
15 minutes break

Period 4 12.16 - 1.08
Lunch 40 minutes

Period 5 1.48 - 2.40
15 minutes break

Period 6 2.55 - 3.47

We have been promised that this will only be until October.

I know a number of parents are unhappy with this arrangement and have contacted John Simmons already.

My son goes back into fourth year and is being moved to the Thomas Muir school.

He doesn't know his timetable or what to take to school. Previously he would have started his fourth year time table weeks before the Summer holidays.

I can only hope the pupils will catch up.

Interview with Bill Waddell (Head teacher for 11 years)

Excerpts from Alison Rennie (Bishopbriggs Herald) interview with Head teacher Bill Waddell.

He was the last head teacher before the amalgamated head was appointed.

"This week reporter Alison Rennie speaks to Bill Waddell, head teacher of Bishopbriggs High, who is leaving the school after 11 years.

TEACHING wasn't the first career choice for Bill Waddell, head teacher of Bishopbriggs High School. He admits it was actually third behind working for the Government's statistics department or becoming a tax inspector. But the taxpayers' loss was teaching's gain as Bill soon discovered when he started his first teaching job of a 30-year career. "My first job was maths teacher in Park Mains Secondary in Erskine, Renfrewshire, in 1974," he recalled.

Bill (54) has been at the school for 11 years and is leaving the school in December.

Bill didn't apply for the head teacher post at the new school and said, although he is sad to leave, he is looking forward to what lies ahead. "I never planned to be a head teacher, my main ambition was to be the head of a maths department but I kept getting promoted," he said. "I have never wanted to be in the same school for 30 years so I've enjoyed moving about. I think about 10 years is a good length of time to be a head teacher. "I am going to be tutoring student maths teachers at Jordanhill from January and I might be getting involved at a national level mentoring head teachers. "I'll have a bit of a rest first though!" Bill said he has thoroughly enjoyed his time at the school and appreciates the support he has always had from local parents. He said it hasn't sunk in yet that he is leaving the school and hopes it doesn't until he is gone."

Gone but not forgotten, Bill left a school he had vastly improved over this 11 years. I think it was a great loss to the school, he will be a hard act to follow. If the council had not applied for an 'amalgamation' I know he would still be head teacher.

This text from interview here

HMI report 2004

Link to the pdf* file for the HMI School report of 2004 for Bishopbriggs High School.

file here

"Key Strengths

HM Inspectors identified the following key strengths.

• The very good provision of curricular and vocational guidance for pupils.
• The wide range of extra curricular activities on offer to pupils.
• Good and sometimes very good teaching.
• The quality of partnership with the School Board and the parent teacher association.
• The support provided to pupils and teachers by ancillary staff, school assistants and special educational needs auxiliaries and technicians.
• The effective group and co operative teaching of learning support specialists.
"

* This file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) to view - available for all platforms here

Councillor Morrison boasts of rigorous evalation process.

In this interview published on the pfi.net web site councillor Morrison explains how the council reached a decision based on 'rigourous evaluation' this included asking the people where they wanted the new school built.

"Councillor Morrison believes that the Council has taken the right decision – a decision reached as a result of a rigorous evaluation process. The evaluation process sought to achieve high quality design, space aspirations and educational benefits that put the needs of pupils, staff, parents and the community at the heart of the project."

"...parents and the community at the heart of the project"

in the end this was ignored and the plans of the builders were supported (see PPP project newsletter below).

And again in this Bishopbriggs Herald article from 24th February 2004.

"..."Consultation with key stakeholders has been at the heart of the council's PPP on school improvements."

Contact him here and let your views be recorder.

Bishopbriggs Herald

On the 8th of August the Bishopbriggs Herald published this article...

"CAMPAIGNERS opposed to moving the new Bishopbriggs Academy to Woodhill say there is nothing new in the council's argument in favour of the Thomas Muir site.

Members of the Woodhill Residents Group are disappointed with the council's decision to build the new school on the Thomas Muir site and claim it offers no more benefits than the Bishopbriggs High School site."

PPP project newsletter

In February 2006 East Dunbartonshire published a PPP newsletter explaining the objectives of the project.

They list the following evaluation criteria:

Education
Design and technical
Legal
Finance
Facilities/Life cycle management
Project/Construction management

Note - Education is top of the list (where it should be)

They also include this paragraph...

"In addition to the standard bids submitted by both
bidders, each has tabled alternative proposals. The
overall objective of both bidders is to reduce the construction
period from four years to a period of two to
two-and-a-half years in order to deliver all schools in
one phase. At a meeting on 12 January 2006 the Council
agreed to test these proposals which will be developed
over the next two months."

The bidders wanted to build the schools quicker than the ITN (Invitation to Negotiate). This could result in substantial cost saving in construction.

Could this be one of the reasons they wanted to move Bishopbriggs Academy from the preferred location to the Thomas Muir
site? This option allowed them to keep St Ninian's on it's existing site and decant the pupils to Thomas Muir - thus completing the project in a faster time scale. Educational advantages?

"Bidder A - Alternative Proposal

Site - New school to be constructed on existing Thomas
Muir High School site while Thomas Muir High School
building will be occupied by St. Ninian’s High School
during construction phase.

Decant arrangements - The new amalgamated school
(i.e. pupils from both schools) will be located on existing
Bishopbriggs High School site for the duration of the
construction period. Supplementary accommodation
will be provided on site to accommodate pupil numbers
and curriculum needs."

The full pdf document is available here.

Letters in the Evening Times

Here are the letters published by the Evening Times after the 'link hands' demonstration.

See other posts...

Look back at the website...

Here's a look back to March 2005 at the Bishopbriggs High web site.

It had been like that from, at least, May 2004...

If you can't read it here's what was written on the site...

"Web Site News

Thank you for showing interest in the web site for Bishopbriggs High School.

Unfortunately the site is currently closed as we are eagerly awaiting our new server space from the council.

Since the network upgrade to XP the web team currently does not have access to web editing software in school and so we are not able to update the site on a regular basis."

Here's a link to the web page - until it's removed... Site

Jo Swinson - From her website

From joswinson.org here

"6 new secondary schools for East Dunbartonshire

...In Bishopbriggs, Thomas Muir and Bishopbriggs High will be amalgamated with one new school being put on the Bishopbriggs High site.

...Council Leader, John Morrison, commented: "The people of East Dunbartonshire have engaged with us since we began consultation last September and they have indicated how highly they value the education service that we provide. This proposal takes account of local opinion and offers local communities brand new schools which will help build on existing achievements and help pupils meet their potential."

...Councillor Eric Gotts, added, "East Dunbartonshire is the second highest performing education authority in Scotland and these modern, state-of-the-art schools, fit for the 21st century, will complete the picture."

That's all I could find about Bishopbriggs High on her web site...

Contact her here and let her know your views - Jo Swinson

See post 'Jo Swinson wanted school on Bishopbriggs High Site'

Picture supplied by the Lib Dems

March 2006 - group pull out of Schools project

In March 2006 only two of the three bidders for the £100m East Dunbartonshire council's PPP school contract remained. Why?

Axiom group (Laing O'Rourke and ABN Amro)

InspirED headed by Amec

The third group Canmore, Dawn Construction, Kier and Ogilvie pulled out of the deal.

The project was expected to last until 2010 with four school being completed by 2008. With the remaining two opening two years later.

The proposal from the winning bidder (InspirED) will built all six in two years. The will use existing schools to accommodate pupils during construction. (see 'August 2008 slips to 2009?' post)

Both Bishopbriggs schools will be used, then demolished, to make way for playing fields. The High school site use has still to be announced by the council (see below "Sporting facility on Bishopbriggs High site?").

The winning bidder pays the cost of all decants.

£100m PFI project...

The brand new schools will hopefully be built in the following areas:

... - Thomas Muir High School and Bishopbriggs High School in Bishopbriggs will amalgamate with a new school being built on the Bishopbriggs High School site...

In September 2003, questionnaires were sent to every household in the area, including all parents and staff asking for their opinion on the new proposals. A further questionnaire was sent in February 2004 to point out relevant options to residents. Public meetings were also held in February. In March 2004, the Project Team encouraged teaching staff to attend Management and Professional Development Group Meetings to contribute to the project. Later, in June 2004, pupils were also involved with the project through consultation workshops.

Source: Project Data File

As you can see the most people wanted a better school even if it cost more. That's exactly the option on the High school site, but this was not the option the council decided.

"Safe and Effective Continuity of Education during the building period."

That's the heading used by councillor McNaughton in the 'Focus on Bishopbriggs' newsletter I received today.

It goes on...

"The new build would have been on the existing playing fields, leaving very little space for pupils movement on the rest of the site".

This is exactly what will happen on most of the other sites, schools are being rebuilt on adjacent land.

If it was a problem why are the council not concerned at these other sites?

In fact the new Bishopbriggs Academy will be built on the Thomas Muir site while St Ninian's use the existing school.

If the school had been built on the Bishopbriggs High site, as the people decided, then this would have been no different from most of the other rebuilds. The school could have been used during construction as the 'footprint' of the new school is on the playing fields.

After speaking to councillor McNaughton she confirmed that the same design of school to be built on the Thomas Muir site will be used throughout the project. This represents a cost saving to the project.

Sporting facility on Bishopbriggs High site?

Before I found out (like everyone else) that the council had reversed the 'people's choice' site for the new school.

I had checked the plans in the council offices, (you can - just ask) you will see plans lodge for housing on the Thomas Muir site along with a large SportScotland approved sporting facility.

Now that we know this site will be used for the new school, let's hope the High School site will be used for this new sporting facility and retain the £1m sports hall that may have to be demolished.

Advantages of the Bishopbriggs High site...

Anyone who knows anything about property will tell you only three things matter... Location, Location and Location.

That's for a good reason - the best locations offer significant advantages - doesn't matter if you built shops, houses or schools!

Transport Links
The Bishopbriggs High site is close to excellent transport links, main bus routes and the Bishopbriggs Railway station.

Library
It is next to the Bishopbriggs Library (the old High School), used by the pupils daily at lunch and in the evening to do home work and check references.

Park
Bishopbriggs Park is nearby, safe access across the main road using the underpass. A quiet area for pupils to lunch.

Shopping and Lunch
The variety of food available cannot be matched at Thomas Muir, cafes, take away and food outlets within a short walking distance.

Community use
Situated near the town 'centre' the site offered convenient access to more people in the area. It has long been argued that the decision to build the Leisuredrome on the outskirts of Bishopbriggs has restricted access for large areas of population in Bishopbriggs.

Town centre locations command top prices, some day we will find out the value of the Bishopbriggs High School site.

Lots of coincidences

When the rebuild process started, I attended a meeting, along with other school board members, that outlined the councils review of all primary and secondary schools in the area.

Each was judged on different criteria to determine the state of the building, pupil numbers, etc.

One of the criteria was 'suitability for amalgamation', remember each school was judged individually (I checked with Sandy McGarvey). The reason I checked was every school that was judged to be suitable for amalgamation had an 'exact' partner in the same area.

When I questioned this I was told it was just another 'coincidence'.

Walk to school...

I have indicated on this picture the walks children could use to get from the north of Bishopbriggs to the Thomas Muir High School Site. Due to the railway, only two bridge crossings are available. The shorter along past Collins onto a fast road with no pavement for a large way and no street lighting.

This is WALK ONE, the one children will be advised not to use (the council don't recognise it!).

The longer WALK TWO travels along the busy main road, crossing just past Wester Cleddens Primary, this is the preffered route.

With this in mind, and a full 23 days before the council meeting to decide where the new school would be built, work started to upgrade this road - yet another coincidence?



Read the Evening Times story here

Update: The upgrade does NOT address the lack of street lighting and pavement issues between the railway bridge and Wester Cleddens Road. A council spokesperson said:

"...Westerhill Road is not recognised by the council as a safe walking route..."

See 'Row rumbles on' post above.

Educational benefits of the Thomas Muir site

Here are the educational benefits, as stated by the council, why they went against 'pubic opinion' and switch the site of the new Bishopbriggs Academy from the intended Bishopbriggs High site to the Thomas Muir site.

Educational benefits...

1. It's flat -
Do children not learn on schools built on a slope?

2. More spacious corridors -
Do children learn a lot walking along corridors?

3. Easier to manage social areas -
Is the management of the school and educational benefit?

4. Continuity of educational provision throughout the build period -
Both schools are being used during the building of the Academy, St Ninian's will use the Thomas Muir site. It could have been used while the school was being built at the High School site!

5. Excellent outdoor sports activities -
Check the two diagrams the council sent you. On the High School site a large portion, on the left, with multi purpose courts has been cut off

Information on this site

All information on this site is in the public domain.

The minutes of all School Board and Council meetings are available from the school concerned or Kirkintilloch library.

The School Board minutes should be available here, but the site is not complete (at time of writing).

If you any comments, objections or suggestions please see the email link on the 'About me' page.

Or use this link mail link.

A lot has been said in the past concerning tax payers of East Dunbartonshire financing the education of pupils from outside the area. Education is centrally funded and paid on a 'per pupil' basis.

Pupils spend money and so do their parents. More pupils equal more jobs.

By roll capping we have lost a school, lost staff, lost support staff - we may even lose a primary school!

The fact is that East Dunbartonshire is one of the cheapest and best value education councils in Scotland.

check here

Bishopbriggs High School roll was, at one point, only a couple of hundred less than the Bishopbriggs Academy roll.

If you want to compare the academic results between Bishopbriggs High and Thomas Muir they speak for themselves.

Take over or merger...

When it was first decided to join together Bishopbriggs High School and Thomas Muir High School certain criteria set out what should happen. If one school has more than a specific percentage of the new school capacity then the situation is a 'take over'.

click here for larger version
The dotted line show projected rolls after capping.

Sept 2000 Bishopbriggs High Roll 1036
Sept 2000 Thomas Muir High Roll 655
Scottish Executive

This was the case with Bishopbriggs High.

Therefore the staff at the larger school would keep their positions, including the head teacher. The name would stay the same (cost saving on stationery, branded items) the uniform would stay the same (saving for the majority of the parents).

The council could apply to have this overturned and ask for an 'amalgamation' and that's exactly what they did.

This requires all the staff, including the head teacher, to apply to keep their post. A new name has to be found, and all reference to the old names removed. A new uniform, both sets of pupils will have to purchase. The changes and costs go on...

To cause such disruption to the pupils education, disruption to staff, the additional costs for parents. What sound reasons would drive the council to make the request for an amalgamation?.

The council also publish the cost of education per pupil for each school.
Here are the costs for 2004/2005...

Bishopbriggs High per pupil £3,969
Thomas Muir per pupil £4,914

Value of East Dunbartonshire school stock 2004 - here

Ask your councillor why they decided to request an amalgamation knowing all the above?

All the councillors email addresses are on the East Dunbartonshire web site here...

Councillors Ward and email links

Now for a maths lesson...

£100 million to build, and maintain for 30 years, six secondary schools to replace seven secondary schools.

The only area to lose a school will be Bishopbriggs.

Bishopbrigss - two secondary schools Bishopbriggs High School and Thomas Muir High School

Two school divided by one school = saving
Two sets of running costs divided by one set = saving
Two group of ancillary staff divided by one group = saving
Two groups of teaching staff divided by one group = saving
Using both schools fully during construction of BA and StN = saving
Two sites (one on the outskirts - one on prime town centre land) divided by the prime site to sell = windfall
Loss of the new £1 million sports arena on the Bishopbriggs High site = unfortunate

When the final costs are in you'll see how much Bishopbriggs Academy benefited from these savings and the windfall, it presented to the council.

Then you can compare these figures to what the council spent on each of the other schools.

The proposed school footprints

Again...
As you can see on the right, the footprint of the new school at the Bishopbriggs High site would allow the existing school to function while it is being built. The pupils wouldn't have to be decanted to the Thomas Muir School (that could still be used by St Ninians).

As you can see on the left the footprint of the new school at the Thomas Muir site allows the existing school to function while the new school is being built. This will allow the school to be occupied, by St Ninians while the new Bishopbriggs Academy is constructed. This factor means the new school playing fields will not be completed until both schools are completed.

Questions you should ask your councillor...

In a letter sent to all parents by John Simmons (Head of Education) dated 2nd August 2006 he says...

"During the construction phase all pupils and staff at Bishopbriggs Academy will have access to the full range of facilities of the former Bishopbriggs High School. This benefit is only possible because of the decision made by the Council."

The council meeting took place on Monday June 26th 2006. At the interim school board meeting on 22nd May 2006 John Simmons announced this decision, a full month before the council meeting! At that time I understood that only one bidder could build at the Bishopbriggs High site, while it was in use (they had yet to decide the preferred bidder). When I questioned this fact it was indicated that the other bidder must have agreed another new design for the High School site.

The preferred bidder pays for any costs involved to decant pupils. How could the council make this decision without knowing who the preferred bidder would be? Would the bidder, who would pay for this, not have to agree beforehand?

Westerhill Road, between the Thomas Muir High site and Cadder, had been pointed out as dangerous for pedestrians to use as it has an incomplete footpath and little street lighting.
The upgrade of this road was started on Monday 3rd July, again twenty three days before the council meeting, another coincidence?

The council also state that their decision had the backing of the Interim School Board. I was part of that board and, like everyone else, did not know the councils decision until a few days ago, so how could we back it?

I resigned before the decision was announced, as I believe, from what I did know, that the decision would NOT be made for the right reasons.

The council sent an A4 sheet underlining the reason they picked the Thomas Muir site rather than, the people's option (and Jo Swinson) - the Bishopbriggs High School site.

Thomas Muir Site - "The orientation of the building allows for good natural light in all rooms" the plan shows an enclosed courtyard! The proposed High School building had greater areas exposed to light on all sides!

High School Site- "The open space on the lower ground floor may have to be restricted if items are dropped from the levels above. This could become a health and safety issue."

Amazingly, this is not mentioned under the illustration of the Thomas Muir School (note the two floors overlooking an open space). So this couldn't happen on that site?

All in all I can see no great 'Educational' advantages from building at the Thomas Muir Site.

I would argue that there are great financial advantages and the use of the site to decant the pupils from St Ninians while their school is built on their existing site.

The location of the school at Bishopbriggs was the right decision, the proposed school on that site, by the preferred bidder (that required NO decant) was fantastic. It's a pity the public were not invited to see it.

This decant may not cause a delay in the building at Thomas Muir but the site will not be completed until both schools are built and the St Ninians pupils move back to their new school. (see 'August 2008 slips to 2009' post)

I want the best for all the pupils, parents and staff of the new school.

So ask your councillors to answer these questions and see what they say.

The winning bidder was InspirED or is it ConspirED.

Joining Bishopbriggs High School board

Shortly after my first son started attending Bishopbriggs High I joined the school board.

I have an interest in the running of the school and had been following the great progress of the then headmaster, Bill Waddell, had made with the school.

The buildings were a bit run down, but were being maintained with ongoing projects the windows and classrooms were being upgraded.

Bishopbriggs High was the most popular school in the area, it was working at well over it's intended capacity due to the number of placing requests it received each year.

The school had only a few less pupils than the new school will educate.

The academic record of the school was excellent and it continued to climb under the leadership of Mr Waddell.

My 100 year connection with the school

I can trace my connection with Bishopbriggs High School back 100 years.

My mother has lived in Bishopbriggs all her life, starting in Mavis Valley, a mining village by the canal, near where the sports centre is built.

He grandfather was a builder and build bungalows in Brackenbrae Avenue and Woodhill Road. She moved the Springfield Square after meeting, and marrying, my father who was posted to Bishopbriggs during the Second World War.
That's when I arrived, we then moved to Hawthorn Avenue, the home my parents still live in and I moved to Colston Avenue after getting married.

My mother, and her uncle, attended the old Bishopbriggs High School (now the library) and my sister and myself attended the new Bishopbriggs High after Wester Cleddens primary.

I had to fight hard for my sons to attend the High School, but they do, and for that I am proud.

My mother worked at the school for over 25 years, so all-in-all I feel very attached to the place.

Having survived the bombings during the Second World War it took a single council meeting on 26th June to close the school.