1. School Estate Consultation Tuesday 17 th January 2012 Meldrum Academy, Meldrum 7 - 9pm

2. The Meldrum Network

3. Meldrum Network Profile 1 Academy – Meldrum Academy (916 pupils) 12 Primaries – rolls from 31 pupils to 353 pupils 13 schools Accessible Rural 0 schools Remote Rural 0 schools Very Remote Rural 0 schools NOT Rural

4. Meldrum Responses to Survey 54 people identified themselves as living in and around Meldrum 65% are parents, carers or grandparents of Aberdeenshire pupils

5. Q1 – Schools should clearly be identified within defined communities Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 90%, No 3%, Don’t Know 7% Meldrum responses – Yes 82%, No 7%, Don’t Know 11% Themes from this question: –Importance of school and community to each other –School Zones and Parental Choice –Not always possible in every community

6. Q2 – School buildings should be seen as a focal point for community activities Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 82%, No 7%, Don’t Know 11% Meldrum responses – Yes 76%, No 9%, Don’t Know 15% Themes from this question: –Use of other community buildings –Potential difficulties for using schools (availability, space not suitable, locking up building)

7. Q3 – Can grouping smaller schools together as clusters under one Head Teacher be beneficial? Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 25%, No 56%, Don’t Know 19% Meldrum responses – Yes 38%, No 51%, Don’t Know 11% Themes from this question: –Need for a head teacher in each school –Good idea / Sharing expertise

8. Q4 – No primary pupil should be expected to undertake a home-to-school journey of more than 45 minutes Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 93%, No 7% Meldrum responses – Yes 92%, No 8% Themes from this question: –Long journeys tiring for young children –Rural areas sometimes make long journeys necessary –Shorter journey times suggested

9. Q5 – No individual child should have to be educated in a school with fewer than 3 contemporaries Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 77%, No 23% Meldrum responses – Yes 64%, No 36% Themes from this question: –Development of social skills –Benefits of small schools –More children would be preferable

10. Q6 – The viability of schools with rolls of 19 pupils or less should be the subject of careful scrutiny Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 80%, No 20% Meldrum responses – Yes 63%, No 37% Themes from this question: –All schools should be scrutinised –Difficult for teachers as well as pupils –Benefit of Small Schools

11. Q7 – What do you think is the best number of pupils to have in a primary school? Aberdeenshire responses 0-50 - 8.6% 50-100 - 19.1% 100-150 - 20.5% 150-200 - 23.8% 200-300 - 20.6% 300-400 - 6.2% 400+ - 1.1% Meldrum responses 0-50 - 38.3% 50-100 - 21.3% 100-150 - 17.0% 150-200 - 6.4% 200-300 - 8.5% 300-400 - 6.4% 400+ - 2.1% Themes from this question :  Class sizes  Benefit of small schools  Just the right size for everyone to know each other

12. Q8 – Any town school operating below 66% of its current capacity within a town also operating at less than 75% capacity should be scrutinised Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 68%, No 32% Meldrum responses – Yes 73%, No 27% Themes from this question: –Future Roll Forecasts –Financial Viability –Scrutiny shouldn’t automatically mean closure

13. Q9 – Any school building whose condition or fitness for purpose is cause for concern should be assessed for options available Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 96%, No 4% Meldrum responses – Yes 89%, No 11% Themes from this question: –Refurbishment and repair –Repair not closure

14. Q10 – Do you feel that school zones in Aberdeenshire should be reviewed? Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 61%, No 39% Meldrum responses – Yes 68%, No 32% Themes from this question: –Regular reviews needed –Parental Choice versus Enforcing Catchment Areas

15. Q11 – Are you aware that schools with less than 70 pupils are in receipt of a rural grant from the Scottish Government? Aberdeenshire responses – Yes 14%, No 86% Meldrum responses – Yes 19%, No 81% Themes from this question: –More information requested

16. Q12 – Rank the issues in the order most important to you Main Differences: School’s Place in Community ranks first ahead of Condition of School Buildings in Meldrum Response Meldrum Response Aberdeenshire Response

17. Q13 – Other issues to considered Aberdeenshire themes: – Quality of Teaching and Education – Importance of Rural Communities – Changing demographics and need for planning – Facilities within schools, accessibility and school grounds – Class sizes Meldrum themes: –Rural Sustainability –Staffing pressures –Early Years –Catchment Areas –School Transport

18. Over to you!