St John's School

[Bob Jefferson]

[mr magnolia]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Maria]

As a parent of a pupil at St John's I can say that I was very surprised at the complete lack of interest expressed by most parents in the possibility of a new school. While trying to gather support for PFANS I was aware that lots of parents were wary of being part of the campaign for the new High School, party I believe because they didn't want the two schools to be built alongside each other in the Park, as was first mooted - certainly several parents raised concerns about this at the consultation meeting - and partly, because they didn't really believe that funding would be made available, after years of campaigning by previous parent bodies at the school had resulted in little reward.

The same consultation meeting also suggested that there was support from parents and senior school staff for a refurbishment and extension rather than a new build. This is not a plan I would favour, for some of the reasons Bob has already stated; a new extension would cut down on available playground space, no amount of refurbishment can really alter the cramped size of the old classrooms and, of course, it all requires a decant. However, it is a plan that seems to have the support of the Head Teacher and those who are willing to act as parent representatives . I'm relieved that my child is in his final year at St John's, but if he was lower down the school I would have tried harder to promote more parental interest and argued the case for a new build much more vociferously.

[Porty]

I totally concur with the comments made by Marya. (admin: edited)

My understanding of the St John's position, which I recently derived from a council Rep, is that ST J are still part of Wave 3 and are at liberty to request a new school or a refurb. I guess the parental body and senior staff believe that a substantial refurb is likely to happen more quickly, in fact more likely altogether as it will cost approximately 50% less. They could well be right about this but it is coincidence rather than design.

I do know that one of our recent meetings at a PHS parental group it was revealed that St Johns had requested to pinch the unused Tennis Courts, which are a fair size in relation to the School's existing footprint. However, PHS, which as we know is already cramped, turned down the request as they have managed, though prudential budget management, to scrape together enough cash (around 60K) to install an Astroturf football facility on the tennis courts. (subject to planning permission etc)

Presumably if ST J is refurbished in the next 5 Years there shall be no additional land available to them. Which is a great pity as the staff and pupils, who do a sterling job, deserve the best they can get. On the other hand it will mean that there will be more PHS land to sell for housing and if the new council stick to the promise of the old one, then there will be a larger contribution, which ought to accelerate the day that JCB's move in on Portobello Park. Which I hope will be a Friday as there's a party at mine that night.

[Maria]

[Porty]

[Maria]

[Porty]

[Porty]

What went down?

[Maria]

[Jock]

I'm a parent of a St John's pupil. The Parent Council at St John's have not included parents in the decision to push for a refurbishment and it has simply come down to a few members of the Parent Council pushing ahead with their choice for a refurbishment without looking for any feedback from St John's parents. Hardly surprising really when one member of the Parent Council is a member of the PPAG. No amount of refurbishment will being St John's up to an acceptable standard and I'm sure that most parents would opt for a new school - if they were ever asked! A lot of parents might move their children from St John's rather than have their education disrupted by a decant. What's next for St John's then - closure? Portobello High and St John's both desperately need new schools and it would be great for everyone in the Portobello community to see the 2 schools come together on this.

[Bob Jefferson]

Jock, you have my sympathy and I'm sure a lot of other St J parents feel they have been railroaded into this without proper consultation. Were you at the meeting the other night? What are other parents saying about refurbishment and decant? More to the point, where would the kids be decanted to?

[Jock]

[wangi]

[Porty]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Porty]

Portobello Nay Brigade- I think its about time we had a who's who?

[wangi]

erm...

[Porty]

I meant in the Schools debate not necessarily here on TP. Probably not a good idea on reflection.

[Lava Lamp]

As a St Johns parent I do find Jocks comments that no information has come from St Johns Parent Council regarding the position with a new/refurbished school puzzling, and I've nothing to do with the council, and don't live near Porty Park!

There have been a number of meetings recently regarding the Schools and the Parent Councils recommendation being proposed to the Edinburgh Council and I have always been made aware of these through digging in my kids bags and finding leaflets and letters. I recall last year completing a survey regarding school rebuild/refurbish and attending several meetings at St Johns which were reasonably well attended (and heated!).

The attendance at the latest meetings is poor, I think the rebuild/refurbish timescales involved and the lack of apparent funding available gives the impression to many parents that nothing is going to happen until there kids have left St Johns - so it ain't their problem. I also think that the push for refurbishment is on the basis that funding for a new school is not going to be made available where as funding for refurb will happen.
Why do I come to that conclusion - politics - SNP council don't want PFI (fair enough) and aren't going to come up with anything else (not fair enough) so that the finger can be pointed at the previous administration. Funding for refurb will ultimately be nessesary and will happen. Decant of the whole school to Lismore or another Edinburgh primary seems likely.

[seanie]

Did the results of the survey ever come to light?

[Bob Jefferson]

[Porty]

[Lava Lamp]

[Porty]

[Maria]

[Porty]

[Maria]

[Maria]

St John's parents have been issued with a questionnaire asking 'How well are we doing?'. If you are such a parent and haven't seen it , have a rummage at the bottom of your child's school bag.

There is an opportunity on the questionnaire for parents to state whether they believe that the Parent Council 'performs its role effectively', citing 'fund raising' and 'communication between school and parents', as examples. While I believe they have been excellent in doing the former, I believe that the latter has been poor. How many of you knew that a decant was being proposed I wonder? There is also suggestion of creating a Parent Council website, which would be a positive step in the right direction.

Questionnaires are to be returned by Thu 20 March.

[Porty]

[Maria]

I would like to think that parent representatives and senior school management believed that they acted in the best interests of the school. However, I am firmly of the opinion that communication with the parent body has been inadequate. I hope that this will change and that, in return, more parents will take an interest in the future of the school.

I admit that I could have probably taken more of an active interest, but it isn't always that easy to attend meetings, especially at short notice. I suspect that this is common to a great deal of parents, especially working ones.

[Jock]

[Maria]

[Jock]