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The Cranston Parents Action Group Against Closure (CPAG) has been formed to counter the proposals put
forward by Midlothian Council to close Cranston Primary School in June, move pupils to temporary accommodation
at the already overcrowded site occupied by Pathhead Primary School in August, and to accommodate pupils from
both schools within a two stream structure at a new PPP-funded site at some time in the future.
The CPAG has four clearly defined aims:
To prevent the closure of a centre of excellence
The CPAG is united with the aims of the representatives of all fellow rural schools in Midlothian that are
also threatened with closure under these proposals. We feel that the benefits of the underlying ethos, philosophy
and culture that exist in the small rural school environment, together with the excellent teaching and attainment
standards that result, is beneficial for all children lucky enough to attend these establishments. These benefits
outweigh the claims that modernisation and collectivism - in pursuit of political ideology - are the only way to
achieve a quality learning environment.
The primary aim of CPAG, therefore, is to save Cranston Primary School from closure.
To correct inaccurate information on which proposals based
The reasons put forward by Midlothian Council for closure relate solely to perceived physical shortcomings
within the school premises. These are without exception inaccurate and the School Board and CPAG will seek to
challenge these reasons individually. Moreover, both will seek to have the matter of the closure referred to
the Scottish Executive, a matter which Midlothian Council seems keen to avoid through dubious interpretation of
the school roll statistics.
To resist forced relocation of pupils
However, we also fully recognise that Midlothian councillors seem entrenched in the belief that the proposals
form the basis of the only viable proposition for the provision of primary education in Midlothian. This has been
confirmed verbally and in writing, and the minimal extent of the public consultation process reinforces this assertion.
Accordingly, if Cranston Primary School – against the wishes of children, parents and teachers - is forced to
close, CPAG will resist all attempts to accommodate our children in temporary accommodation at the current Pathhead
Primary School site for an indeterminate number of years until new premises have been constructed.
The reasons for this are:
- The Pathhead site is currently overcrowded, being at capacity and with insufficient hall, dining, toilet and
playground facilities to accommodate its current roll. These points were made in the Director of Education's own
report and are also highlighted in the latest HMI Report, carried out in September 2003. An additional 60 pupils
will merely exacerbate the existing problems.
- There is insufficient classroom accommodation for an additional 60 pupils. Midlothian Council proposes, therefore,
to forcibly remove 60 children from school premises that are more than adequate to meet long-term, let alone short-term
educational requirements at Cranston into portakabins to be located in a field to the rear of the Pathhead site.
- There are no PE facilities at the Pathhead site. This will require pupils to be bussed to the Greenhall campus.
To satisfy government guidelines which state that pupils should have twice weekly access to physical education, this
impacts on the time that can be spent in the classroom.
- A significant number of pupils walk to Cranston. All children will have to be driven or bussed to the Pathhead
site. Located on the busy A68 trunk road, this raises serious safety as well as environmental concerns. Parking and
stopping safely are already problematic.
- Cranston pupils will be subjected to two school moves during their formative years.
- There can be no cost benefit in closing premises that are warm, wind and watertight, which have recently had new
heating, double glazing and toilets installed, and where the children are happy if the alternative is to lease land
at the Pathhead site, prepare the land to receive portakabins, provide, fit and heat portakabins, construct walkways
between the portakabins and main school buildings, ensure that the premises are secure, construct alternative vehicular
access, transport children to and from school and to and from PE, etc
- For the disruption that will inevitably ensue, the proposed temporary relocation of pupils to the Pathhead site is
not in the best interests of Cranston children from an educational or physical perspective. Nor is it in the best
interests of those children currently at Pathhead Primary School.
To follow the government's lead
To ensure that the school environment meets the objectives stated in the Scottish Executive's "Building our
Future: Scotland's School Estate", which places the child at the centre, and the school at the heart of the community,
CPAG will be launching a tactical campaign to oppose the closure proposals as well as to strenuously resist any attempt
to relocate our children to temporary accommodation. A list of tactics, including media events, will be published on
the Midlothian Rural Schools Action Group website, www mrsag.org.uk, shortly.
Contacts
Martin Walker –
Jo Church-Olney –
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