Primary told to pay £2,200 to flag up its green credentials

THEY built up their green credentials, introduced recycling points in their school and created an environmental garden.

But, despite achieving the prestigious Green Flag eco award, Craigroyston Primary cannot show off its success to the world – because it cannot afford to pay for a flagpole.

The Muirhouse Place West school has been quoted more than 2,100 to have a flagpole installed within the school grounds to display the Green Flag awarded by Eco Schools Scotland.

Because the school was one of the first in the Capital to be built under the controversial public private partnership PPP1, Craigroyston has to ask maintenance firm Amey for permission to make any improvements or alterations – and has to have an Amey-approved contractor carry out the work, which can often be more expensive. While the city council says putting up a flagpole would usually set schools back between 500 and 600, Craigroyston has been quoted 2,184, which it does not have the funds for.

The Green Flag, which is the highest award given by Eco Schools Scotland, has had to be displayed on a wall within the school – instead of taking pride of place on a flagpole outside, where it belongs. PTA member Margaret Paget, whose son Matthew is in P7 at the school, said: "It's a shame that the kids have done all that work but they can't get the flagpole put up. Instead, we've had to put the flag on a wall inside the school.

"It would be nice to give the kids the chance to see their flag flying outside to encourage them, because they had to work hard to get it. Unfortunately we have to get permission from Amey to do anything, and the price it quoted means we've not got the funds."

Forth ward councillor Cammy Day is appealing to Amey to contribute to the costs, or for a private sponsor to come forward to enable the school to erect the flag.

He said: "Because the school is run by a private company and it is responsible for all the land around it, if the school wants to do anything, like put up a shelf, it has to go through the company, and this is the price quoted for this job.

"Staff at the school are a bit deflated because they cannot afford to put this flagpole up, and the amount of staff time put in to getting the eco status was fantastic."

As the Evening News reported on Friday, parents are finally to be allowed to help paint schools and hang pictures, after the city council performed a U-turn over its health and safety rules. It follows a controversial ruling last year that parents at Pirniehall Primary in Pilton were not allowed to hang pupils' framed artwork due to health and safety restrictions, meaning joiners were instead hired at a cost of 350.

The city council denies any knowledge of the high quote given to the school to erect the flagpole. It says Craigroyston, like all schools, should go through the children and families department to ask for work to be carried out. Amey declined to comment.