Building a joint school campus: FOI release

Information requested

• How many joint campuses have been built in Scotland in the past 5 years?
• What scheme does the Local Authority apply under to be successful in gaining funding for this and is there a possibility it will not be granted?
• Is the funding provided by the Scottish Government and if not what percentage of cash comes from there?
• How long should the consultation period take for a town to change the system of education provided, including merging buildings?
• How long has the consultation period taken in all builds of joint schools in the past 5 years?
• How long have the past 10 builds taken?
• What are the difference in timescales from changing the towns education system, consulting on and building a joint campus?
• If we were given the choice to rebuild the damaged element of the existing school in comparison what are the difference in timescales from changing the towns education system, consulting on and building a joint campus?
• What is the current cap on class size for primary aged children?
• Why is there an expectation that any decision is made, even to replace like for like will then see the town stuck with the same system for years to come; - in one statement 50 years?

Response

How many joint campuses have been built in Scotland in the past 5 years?
We do not hold this information. However, the Scottish Government’s previous school building programme, Scotland’s Schools for the Future, included 25 campus projects.

What scheme does the Local Authority apply under to be successful in gaining funding for this and is there a possibility it will not be granted?
Local authorities submit priority projects for investment to the Scottish Government as part of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). The first phase of projects were announced in September 2019 and a second phase will be announced by the end of 2020. 
All projects are considered on the basis of criteria in line with the new Learning Estate Strategy.
Scottish Government are continuing to work local authorities regarding which projects may be suitable for support within future phases of the LEIP.
However, the LEIP is intended to augment, not replace, local authorities investment in their school estate.

Is the funding provided by the Scottish government and if not what percentage of cash comes from there?
The funding for projects that form part of the Learning Estate Investment Programme, is based on the premise that Scottish Government and Local Government funding is 50:50 by reference to investment in ‘like for like’ provision that is capable of delivering the outcomes set for the programme.

How long should the consultation period take for a town to change the system of education provided, including merging building?
Under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, local authorities are required to consult on proposals for a period of at least 30 school days. In practice, the complete consultation process from a local authority formulating a proposal to a Council decision and any possible Ministerial call-in can take over a year.

How long has the consultation period taken in all builds of joint schools in the last 5 years?
We do not hold this information.

How long have the past 10 builds taken?
We do not hold this information.

What are the difference in timescales from changing the towns education system, consulting on and building a joint campus?
We do not have access to the details of each of the options you present. Therefore, this question should be put to the Highland Council who have statutory responsibility for managing and maintaining the school estate.

What is the current cap on class size for Primary aged children?
The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999, as amended by the Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010, set the class size maxima in P1-P3 single stage classes. Local authorities are also required to take account of class size maxima set by national agreement in teachers' terms and conditions of service.
Therefore the current class size maxima across the primary phase are as follows:
Primary 1: 25 pupils
Primary 2-3: 30 pupils
Primary 4-7: 33 pupils
Composite class: 25 pupils

Why is there an expectation that any decision made, even to replace like for like will then see our town stuck with the same system for years to come; - in one statement 50 years ??
The question should be put to the Highland Council as it is its statutory responsibility manage and maintain its school estate.

About FOI

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