Learning Estate Update ECSPB 02 11 2023
Renfrewshire Council · 2 November 2023
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 2 November 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Page 1 of 6 To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 2 November 2023 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Interim Chief Education Officer __________________________________________________________________ Heading: Learning Estate Update __________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide members with a further update on education provision in Dargavel. 1.2 Missives have been concluded on the 8.5-acre site at the north end of Craigton Drive, identified as the preferred site (available in the required timescale) through an options appraisal that reviewed a total of 19 sites suggested by BAE, Elected Members, community representatives and members of the public. This secures space for a new school for 800 pupils as well as an artificial sports pitch which will be available for community use outside school hours. 1.3 A request to begin formal statutory consultation on the establishment of the new school and associated catchment review will be brought to this Board in January. 1.4 A specialist space planning company, Space Zero, has been employed to help us plan how the new school will be used as a high quality learning environment and, out-with the school day, as a valuable community resource. To gather stakeholder input questionnaires were circulated to Dargavel Primary School parents/carers and the local community on 2 October. To date we have received more than 600 responses. 1.5 The Dargavel Primary School internal works, which were due to be completed in October 23, have been delayed due to their intrusive nature. Officers are working with designers to progress the solution and it is estimated that the works will take place during the summer break next year with completion in time for the new school term. This will ensure there is no disruption to learning and teaching.
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Page 2 of 6 1.6 To create interim additional capacity at Park Mains High School a modular unit which is currently being used as the Paisley Central Library will be cleared out and relocated to the High School over the weekend of 25/26 November. Once in place, works to repurpose the unit will take place with an expected completion date of April 2024. 1.7 We are also moving forward with the space planning for the extension to Park Mains. Our consultants will be working with pupils, staff, and parents/carers at the school over the coming weeks to gather their thoughts on the current school, and with community groups to establish how it could be better used out of school hours as a community resource. 1.8 To provide an improved learning environment at Bishopton Primary School, we are planning to replace the Classroom Block at Bishopton Primary School with a new, improved permanent facility, in time for the new school year in August 2024. The design of the new classroom block will mirror those located at Dargavel Primary School and will provide an improved learning experience for pupils along with outdoor space covered by a canopy. 1.9 Significant planning is taking place to strengthen the Council’s approach to learning estate planning that our educational establishments are fit for purpose and meet the needs of all communities in Renfrewshire. 2. Recommendations 2.1. It is recommended that members note the content of this report. 3. Dargavel Early Learning and Childcare Centre 3.1 The existing Dargavel Early Learning Childcare Centre (ELCC) is being extended as an additional requirement to Renfrewshire Council’s programme to deliver 1140 hours of preschool childcare. The centre required increased internal floor area to accommodate an additional 24 no. children attending. This is being achieved by enclosing the existing covered external play area, creating an increase in the gross internal floor area of the building. 3.2 The new layout was reviewed and agreed with the Care Inspectorate on 30th January 2023. Reconfiguration of the existing child toilets, to include an additional child toilet provides sufficient capacity for the increased child numbers. An external canopy is also being installed in the grassed play area. The programme of works to extend the existing centre are on programme track and due to complete early November 2023. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Next steps for Primary provision in Dargavel 4.1. A review of BAE System’s land remediation scope has been undertaken and the Council will gain access to the preferred site in November 2023 to carry out Site Investigations and produce a final report by December 2023.
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Page 3 of 6 4.2. In relation to the delivery route for the new school, officers have entered into discussion with HubWest Scotland to understand if there is an indicative project cost and programme which may provide an accelerated route to market and potentially a tighter delivery timeline. 4.3. Identification of the preferred procurement and delivery route will take account of anticipated programme, implications with the BAE associated remediation and infrastructure programme, appropriate engagement timelines with the local community, as well as wider resourcing demands within the Council. 4.4. The draft programme for delivery of the new school is currently August 2027. As work progresses to refine the procurement and delivery programme, this anticipated delivery date will be firmed up and all opportunities will be explored where practicable to bring this forward. 4.5. Space planning consultants Space Zero are working with the Council’s project team to develop the strategic brief and space model for the new school. Their engagement with the school and wider community will ensure that the views and opinions of stakeholders are gathered to help inform the Council’s strategic approach for the project. 4.6. Space Zero and officers have visited the existing Dargavel Primary School This has provided the opportunity to see how the building functions when operational, informing the design process for the new primary school. 4.7. Additionally, staff, pupil, parent/carer and wider community workshops are scheduled to take place over the coming weeks to explore what the new school could look like. 4.8. We have continued to keep parents/carers, staff and the wider community informed on progress of the new school through direct updates, as part of our wider ongoing communications activity around education provision in the area. 4.9. Under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 the Council has a requirement to undertake a formal consultation on a proposal to establish a new school. It is our intention to bring a further report to this Board outlining the statutory process and requesting permission to carry out a consultation. ___________________________________________________________________ 5. Secondary School provision 5.1. In May 2023, the Education and Children Services Policy Board approved a 400 pupil extension to the capacity of Park Mains High School, and to cap that school’s total capacity at the extended 2000 capacity figure. 5.2. It’s anticipated that the extension will be in place and operational for June 2027. 5.3. To create additional flexibility and capacity in the interim, a modular unit being used at Paisley Library but which is no longer required there as a result of the opening of the new leanring hub will be moved to Park Mains High School over the weekend of 25/26 November. Once repurposed this will be operational from April 2024, and will be able to accommodate up to 156 pupils.
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Page 4 of 6 5.4. The modular units will provide for five classrooms, staff toilets, pupil toilets and an accessible toilet 5.5. The high-level cost estimate for an extended building to the school is circa £30m. Discussions are are ongoing regarding the obligation of BAE Systems who, under the existing Section 75 agreement, are required to contribute towards the expansion cost. 5.6. Officers have mobilised an internal design team for the programme and an initial meeting has taken place to discuss extension options, timeline and procurement strategies. 5.7. A liaison group for Park Mains High School and all feeder primaries has been established to share information on the programme and gather feedback which will help inform the design of the building. 5.8. Consultants have been appointed to help us with the space planning for the extension to Park Mains and this work started on 5 October. This will include interviews with key officers and will capture feedback from key stakeholders of the school over how the school is and could be used as an educational facility, and from the local community over how the building is and could be used out of school hours. 6. Review of the School Estate 6.1. The wider learning estate needs to be planned to ensure that our educational establishments meet the needs of all communities in Renfrewshire. 6.2. Officers have developed a new internal governance framework for managing and developing the learning estate. This new structure will include regular reports to this Board on the status of and options for the school estate. The terms of reference are appended to this report. 6.3. To inform those status and options reports, as a first step the Council require to baseline the current position and develop a longer-term asset management plan. To that end we are in the process of preparing documents for a market testing exercise to understand whether there are specialist consultants who can assist us in developing these plans. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial This report is for noting and as such there no implications which arise directly from this report. 2. HR and Organisational Development None
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Page 5 of 6 3. Community/Council Planning Our Renfrewshire is thriving - The new learning environment will support learning and achievement for all. Our Renfrewshire is well - The new learning environment will support the Health and Wellbeing of all. Our Renfrewshire is safe - The new learning environment will provide safe and secure spaces for all users. Reshaping our place, our economy and our future - The new learning environment will provided spaces which support local enterprise. Building strong, safe and resilient communities - The new learning environment will provide spaces to support community activities. 4. Legal Renfrewshire Council adheres to all relevant legislation. 5. Property/Assets Through its school estate management plan the Council aims to have an efficient and well maintained property portfolio which provides learning environments which support the delivery of the curriculum. 6. Information Technology The new campus will have IT provision which supports digitally enabled learning. 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety None. 9. Procurement Renfrewshire Council adheres to all procurement regulations. 10. Risk A full risk register will be compiled for the project in accordance with the Council’s established risk management protocols.
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Page 6 of 6 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Cosla Policy Position None. 13. Climate Risk The project aims to comply with the requirements for ambitious energy efficiency targets over the long term and to contribute to the Council’s net-zero commitments. List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1: Developing the School Estate Management Plan (SEMP 2020) (b) Background Paper 2: Proposal to consult on the relocation of Paisley Grammar School to a new build Community Campus at Renfrew Road in Paisley. (c) Background Paper 3: Response to proposal to consult on the relocation of Paisley Grammar School to a new build community Campus at Renfrew Road in Paisley. The foregoing background papers will be retained within children’s services for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Ian Thomson, education manager. ___________________________________________________________ Children’s Services JC 26 October 2023 Author: Julie Calder Interim Chief Education Officer