Parent Council April 2013 Newsletter

 

We are – again – having a busy year. As always, we welcome your input. Contact us by email on olm-parentcouncil@hotmail.com  or speak to Anne Forsyth on 07952 251303, whether it’s for a quick question/comment, an item you want us to discuss at a meeting or feedback on an issue affecting the school.

 We will get in touch shortly to let you know what else we have been doing on your behalf but before that, wanted to update you on integration with the Robslee campus at the beginning of the 2014/15 school year.

Budget allocated by ERC
East Renfrewshire Council has now allocated a budget of £1,000,000 for work required on the transition. Our Parent Council has been involved in discussions with ERC on securing and using this funding. We have considered various options with ERC and in doing so, have thought about how the merged campus can best function as a four stream school. 

 Secure link between the buildings

 As a result of this process, we believe that a secure link between the 2 buildings is the most pressing priority. Management and staff strongly agree. There are some key issues which led us to this view:

  • Transfers between buildings – there will be significant crossover between the 2 buildings in order to make use of the additional general purpose space (eg for gym / IT) we so desperately need. As you know, we will fill all the Robslee classrooms as soon as the transition takes place but only 2 year groups out of 7 can be based there. For a busy curriculum to function effectively with over 800 children requiring space for music, gym, IT and the like, the maximum degree of flexibility for children moving around between the 2 buildings is essential.  Only a secure link can offer this.
  • Accessibility – accessibility for all is central to our ethos. Due to the gradient between the two buildings, there is no solution allowing those with mobility issues to transfer between the buildings other than a fully built in and embedded link with a lift. We do not want 2 “mini” schools  and whilst this link will require  substantial work and expenditure, we feel this is the best way forward for the future of the school.  A secure link will ensure we can still operate as a vibrant and busy single hub of activity with children of all ages and abilities mixing together.
  • Solution required – we believe the integrated campus is likely to be at least a medium and possibly a long term solution to our immediate need for a 4 stream school serving our very busy existing catchment area. We therefore need to achieve the best possible outcome now to consolidate for the future.

ERC is now investigating the proposal in detail and will come back to us in the next few months with detailed options, costings and plans. These will then be assessed against the budget which may require to be allocated entirely to the link depending on those final costings.

If the link can be built within the budget, there will obviously be construction work in due course but this will be managed to cause the minimum of disruption and we will of course let you know as soon as we have more to report.

In the meantime, the management team and staff continue to think about how best to utilise the integrated campus and will of course consult with us on your behalf. Again, once there is more to tell you, we will let you know. No firm decisions have been made yet. In the meantime, we hope this is a helpful summary of where we are and how we got here.

Our Lady of the Missions Parent Council