Parents' anger at plans for schools to swap buildings

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 09:16

PARENTS are protesting at plans for their children's school to swap buildings with the over-subscribed Catholic primary next door.

A falling school roll means Broomhouse Primary now only teaches about a third of the pupils that it could accommodate, while St Joseph's RC Primary – which shares a site with Broomhouse – is bursting at the seams and turning children away.

An influx of Eastern European children and growing demand for places from non-Catholic families has seen pupil numbers double at St Joseph's.

City education chiefs are proposing that the two schools simply swap buildings, but parents at the non-denominational Broomhouse Primary fear their children will miss out on special facilities, including a computer suite, which they currently enjoy.

They have now raised a petition against the proposed move, which former Lord Provost Eric Milligan has described as "almost Draconian".

The two schools have shared a campus on Saughton Road since 2002.

Since then St Joseph's school roll has more than doubled to 200, while Broomhouse has space for 415 and only houses 143 pupils.

St Joseph's has started to prioritise baptised Roman Catholics.

Cllr Milligan, the Labour councillor for the area, said: "Sometimes we don't need a hammer to crack a nut and this seems like a slightly dramatic, almost Draconian proposal being put forward.

"I have a feeling there's going to be a few angry people in Broomhouse."

Parents who have signed a protest petition say their children will lose out on facilities, including the computer suite, playing fields and bike sheds.

One angry parent said: "The headteacher at St Joseph's is taking in more pupils than the school can hold and they think it's fine for them to come along and take our school.

"So many children at that school aren't even in the catchment area and so many aren't even Catholic so it's ludicrous to suggest taking our school away from us.

"The other parents at Broomhouse feel the same and we've got 60 signatures on a petition so far.

"Some parents are already threatening to remove their kids from Broomhouse if this goes ahead."

Gillian Tee, director of education in Edinburgh, has written to parents about the council's plans, which if approved by the education committee on 18 March, could take effect in the summer.

She said: "I do believe that in this situation it is reasonable for the two schools to switch individual accommodation.

"Both schools would still use the same shared facilities that they now enjoy.

"This is a practical solution to the problem but the final decision does sit with the Education, Children and Families Committee."

At present, both schools have their own identity, with their own entrances, reception areas and classrooms, but they share facilities such as the dining hall and playground.