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View Full Version : Four Wick primaries would become two under shake-up



Nwicker60
04-Aug-11, 09:43
Changes 'good' for Wick primary pupils says education chairman Bill Fernie

THE chairman of Highland Council’s education, culture and sport committee has welcomed plans for major changes to primary school education in Wick.
Under the changes, which will go out to public consultation, two schools would merge, in new buildings.
Hillhead Primary and Wick North would be replaced by a new school on the latter site and, on the other side of the town, Pulteneytown Academy and the South School pupils would be accommodated on the new Wick High school campus.
The shake-up follows a study of the current Wick set-up by a team of consultants.
Highland Council’s education, culture and sport, chairman, Bill Fernie, said today that the changes would be good for Wick and he predicts these will go down well with local people. The only caviat is that some children will have to travel a little further to get to school.
He continued: “The fact is that Wick would be in a unique position of having its school buildings brand new, within the next five years. The town would not only have a new high school, with a library and swimming pool but two new primary schools as well.”
Mr Fernie added that in capital terms, it represented an investment of £57 million, one of the largest investments by the council in any area across the Highlands.
The authority will be asked to put the plans out to consultation at a meeting next week. But it is expected to approve the following public meetings under the consultation process which will run from Monday August 15 to Friday, September 23.
Assembly Rooms, Wick at 7pm on 6 September - Hillhead and North Primary Schools. Assembly Rooms, Wick at 7pm on 13 September - Pulteneytown Academy and South Primary Schools.
All comments received, will be summarised and made available to elected members who will consider this consultation report at the Education Culture & Sport Committee on 9 September 2011.
If you have any comments in relation to this Consultation Report please either e-mail them to:
ecsadmin@highland.gov.uk or alternatively in writing to Ron MacKenzie, Head of Support Services Education Culture & Sport Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, INVERNESS, IV3 5NX.
The option appraisal report identifies the following strengths in relation to the above recommendations:-

Improved and enhanced opportunities for learning and teaching
Increased possibilities for pupil entitlement and equal opportunities
Added value and value for money – wraparound childcare, increased opportunity for community facilities and services
Improved traffic managementThe report also highlights the opportunity for a single procurement of the High School and the two new primaries. Further comments from Mr Fernie: “I believe that these proposals combined give a huge shot in the arm to Wick and the east of Caithness and pushes a number of buttons for education, sports and leisure facilities for the whole community. When completed these projects mean that Wick will have one of the best provisions for educational facilities in the Highlands. In addition such a huge investment goes a long way to providing an economic boost to Caithness with all the spin offs for jobs and economic activity that will result across many sectors of our local economy.
Mr Fernie added: “Whilst education is at the forefront of the proposals, there many additional pluses for the area in helping to ensure that it goes a long way to promote regeneration. These proposals are truly transformational for the area and I am sure will be a huge attraction for potential businesses and employees if they choose to relocate to Caithness.”
Councillor Gail Ross, Wick, said: "As a parent, I welcome any investment in our local schools that will improve the learning environment for our children. Three new schools in Wick over the next five to six years is tremendously good news for not just parents and children in the area but for the wider community as well. This is a welcome boost to the economy in the far north and I look forward to seeing the plans and the work actually beginning. We have to make sure now that the builds are kept within budget and delivered on time. We should also make sure that the existing buildings are dealt with appropriately and not left to fall into disrepair."
Councillor David Flear, chairman of the Caithness Ward Business Group, also welcomed the proposed spending in Caithness.
He said: “This is great news for Caithness. We also have plans for new Council office accommodation in the centre of the town to replace Market Square, so this another huge boost for the area.”