HC capital programe no mention of Wick HS

[cuddlepop]

According to the Agenda and reports submitted for the ECS meeting on the 7th of August,Wick High School are on the table but not included in the capital programe for 2008....2012.

Thurso High are having their Science labs and extension block refurbished.:D



The ECS budget is under considerable strain because of food and fuel costs but savings still have to be made.
additional needs budget is under funded but over stretched so the future does not look good for our kids in Highland.
Probably more families will have to move away to get the specialist teaching their kids require.
Glad this is our last year as things are only going to get worse.:~(

[cd1977]

Slightly heavy on the drama there.

I don't really see families moving away from the area because of superficial building defects in Wick high school or any other school.

I don't share your view that things do not look good for kids in the Highlands. It's hardly make or break is it?

[cuddlepop]

Three children will not be going back to Portree High School after the summer holidays.
One family has moved away and the other two's children will be in residential/educational care through the week and home some weekends.
The school here has finally admitted after 4/5 years that they cannot meet the childs needs.

we are compromised because of our location.nearly all specialist educational needs are meet in the central belt.we only play at "inclusion"

ask a parent who has been campaigning to improve/build a new Wick High school and see how they feel that there isnt even a mention of the HS for future devlopment:(

[cd1977]

I do apologise as I was not aware of your particular circumstances.

However, I stand by the comments re Wick high school. As long as there are the following:

1. A roof over the kids heads
2. Heating in winter
3. Pens & pencils
4. Textbooks
5. A library

I don't foresee any immediate problems.

Building defects are pretty irrelevant to kids.

[cuddlepop]

While I agree as long as the kids have got the facilities you mention the condition of "fixtures and fittings" can and does play a part in the childs educational outcome.

We've had this debate before about whether the fabric of the school inhibits the childs learning so i wont reopen it.

Venture for one is going to be bitterly disappointed at this outcome.:~(

[Sapphire2803]

Do a quick online search to find out what happened at Camden School for girls due to High Alumina Cement and then bear in mind the amount of HAC in the Wick High buildings and the fact that various recommendations made by surveyors have been ignored.

Still think it's irrelevant?

[lynne duncan]

However, I stand by the comments re Wick high school. As long as there are the following:

1. A roof over the kids heads
2. Heating in winter
3. Pens & pencils
4. Textbooks
5. A library

I don't foresee any immediate problems.

Building defects are pretty irrelevant to kids.

aye well i don't share these views

1. fine the roof they have has holes so allows the children wet and damp environment
2. no there have been well documented times when there is no heating
3. in this day and age pens and pencils are not the only thing required
4. accept they have neccessary textbooks
5. accept library

if you don't foresee any immediate problems are you blessed with a sceond sight and if so when do you see problems arising as i'm sure the hc would be glad so they can be prepared

and if the buildings collapse we'll be sure to tell the children that the defects are irrelevant to them. though my 10 year old who has seen the state of the maths block cracks doesn't seem to think that they are not relevant

[cd1977]

Your argument does not convince me at all.

Kids can learn in any environment. It's all about the learning and absolutely nothing to do with the building.

It's heavily exagerrating the situation to say that the building will collapse. And I still say these things are irrelevant to kids, unless they have been badgered about it by the adults in their lives.

[ocd]

CD - kids may well be able to learn in most environments, but, why should they??

Lack of heating in winter most certainly will affect learning, as will displaced classes due to areas of the school being closed for safety reasons (as happened recently with the new block)

I don't think it is much to ask for an adequate school for our kids, I am sure very few of us would accept a work environment in this state of disrepair.

It is about time some of the funding which SE have earmarked for building new prison blocks with all the mod cons should be redirected to schools. Its a sad day when prisoners have more entitlement to "nice" surroundings than our kids.

[cd1977]

I dont disagree that new facilities would be nice.

I simply disagree on the urgency of the situation and would say that people seem to have lost all perspective. As I said if the building is heated and reasonably comfortable then if things have been pushed back for at least four years, so be it.

I cant help feeling that some of those who feel very strongly on this issue must have some kind of vested interest.

[Sapphire2803]

Well, I for one never said the school will collapse. I said it could! Well certainly the block which contains the swimming pool. I have yet to find an expert who is happy about the condition of that building, or the fact that most of the previous recommendations for the building have been ignored.

Look at it another way. If you go into a school in most parts of the country, you will find all mod cons. All the equipment necessary to facilitate a 21st century education. Not in Wick High.
In England they are currently revamping EVERY high school. Ok, in the newer school buildings, there will be less done.
When our kids leave WHS and go off to college elsewhere, they are likely to find themselves faced with equipment/technology they have never encountered before, this is equipment that every other pupil in the class will be experienced with.
The state of the buildings aside, the lack of funding for books and equipment at that school is a disgrace!

[cd1977]

And that's a different argument.

But it's one that will never be solved so long as we are under the remit of Westminster. We pay into the system, we get next to nothing out. It's always been that way, and likely always will be. Wick is irrelevant to these people unfortunately.

[Sapphire2803]

But. it's all the same argument. The school cannot get funding. The problem seems to be with the Highland council. They claim lack of funds and then bump Wick, not just down the list, but off of it completely! No offence to anyone on Skye, but Portree school was assessed for repairs at the same time as Wick, it wasn't as bad according to the assessor. They now have a new school and we've disappeared from the list!
They say it was decided based on school rolls (current and predicted) but if you check their school rolls and predictions, it doesn't work out.

So, the only way it works is if you look at it from a tourism/popularity point of view.
Wouldn't want the tourists etc to see a crappy school. Wick'll just have to make do! Nobody goes there anyway!

If you go one step higher than the council and question the executive about it, they aren't interested. "Speak to the Highland council, it's their problem" [disgust]


[/rant]

[cd1977]

Well, no my original argument was whether the superficial state of a building was detrimental to learning. It never has been and never will be. This is not something specific to Wick or even the UK. People the world over receive a brilliant education with only the most basic of facilities. That is why I do not buy the argument that the building affects results.

The funding argument is a completely different argument. Wick will be at or around the bottom of all priority lists for government funds. That's just the way it is and there are many reasons why. But it's not likely to change any time soon. Even if we were ruled from Edinburgh, we would remain low priority.

[cuddlepop]

Why is it that no one takes notice when you set up and present a petition.
You should have insisted Prince Charlie had a guided tour of your school when he was up and wait for the reaction ,i bet it'd be pretty dam quick.

I've no idea why we leapfrogged and got a new school but I can assure you having a brand new PPP school thats suppose to be a community facility is a farce,so dont go down this path.[disgust]

[cuddlepop]

The Education Culture and Sport Service has an indicative allocation for capital projects of £112.7 million over the next four financial years, starting with an estimated £27.3 million in 2008/09.
Major primary school projects identified to proceed in this financial year are
Aviemore Primary Replacement (estimated cost of £8.7 million) and Tomnacross Primary Extension - - £1,036,000.
The replacement of primary schools at Maryburgh and Conon Bridge with one new school is recommended to be subject to a detailed option appraisal to be completed within six months.
Major secondary school projects identified to proceed in this financial year are: -
Lochaber High School Refurbishment - £15,130,000;
Mallaig High School Hostel - £3,651,000;
Nairn Academy Special Educational Needs Extension - £690,000;
Thurso High School – Refurbishment of extension block and science labs - £1,332,000.
Looking further ahead, the ECS Committee noted that the revised cost estimate for a new primary school at Lochaline is £2,941,000, with work recommended to begin in 2009/10, with the major spend in the two following financial years.
Future years beyond the lifetime of the programme, include Cromarty Primary School and Golspie High School; and the impact of developments of A 96 corridor developments.
Also to be considered is the consultation on the provision of proposed new dedicated Gaelic primary schools at Fort William and Portree.
--Ends-

Copied this from Hc web site.
I hope Bill Fernie is noting the absence of Wich High School in this 4/5year financial programe.:(