Fears over plan to co-locate schools

AN £8 million plan for Roman Catholic and non-denominational schools to share a site in Peebles could create sectarian divisions in an area where religious differences have never been an issue, according to critics.

The majority of parents with children at Halyrude RC School and Kingsland School are said to be against the move, and now there are demands for alternative options to co-location.

Both schools have been deemed unfit to deliver modern standards of education because of the age and condition of the buildings as well as overcrowding and projected increases in pupil numbers.

Under Scottish Borders Council’s preferred option, Halyrude, which currently has 95 pupils, and Kingsland, which has 335, would move to a new joint campus, believed to be at Violet Bank, in 2007/8.

A group of 20 teachers, parents and school board members from both primaries recently visited a school site in Edinburgh and were shown how co-location works.

However, wide-ranging doubts and concerns remain, and a campaign has been started under the title Save Kingsland School months before the official consultation process is due to commence.

The result of a ballot of Kingsland parents on the co-location issue will be revealed at a school board meeting tonight. The Scotsman understands a clear majority have voted against the idea of a joint campus.

Paul Rogers, the chairman of Kingsland School board, said: "We recently celebrated our centenary, and there is a strong emotional attachment to the fine, listed building.

"There is no doubt some people are concerned that co-location will raise sectarian issues in future, and they are worried over that aspect."

Paul Nichol, his counterpart at Halyrude, confirmed most families whose children attended the RC school were not in favour of a move to a shared campus.

"These schools certainly need major investment, and Halyrude cannot be extended," he said. "In our discussions, the majority of parents would like a new school, but not a co-located one. We feel the particular ethos and feeling within Halyrude would be lost by such a move."