Ayr schools in swap plan

Mar 18 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

COUNCIL chiefs are considering swapping Kyle Academy and Queen Margaret Academy buildings.

The idea has been suggested to parents and it is expected that a formal consultation will kick off shortly.

Currently, Kyle Academy has a school roll of 780 with a capacity of 852.

While Queen Margaret Academy has 674 pupils attending, with a capacity of 1258.

The new housing estate tobe built near the Queen Margaret building is expected to result in a big increase in Kyle Academy’s numbers.

Rumours about the two schools swapping buildings have been around for years, but council bosses are now seriously considering it.

Harry Garland, chief of schools, said: “It is only an idea at this stage. Officers will continue to explore this idea before providing advice to elected members.”

And in a letter to parents, Kyle Academy head teacher, Eileen Brown, said: “The proposal to exchange the buildings to make best use of the school estate is at a very early stage of consideration.”

One Queen Margaret Academy parent said: “It makes sense for the bigger school community to have the bigger building, but I can understand if Kyle Academy parents aren’t best pleased at the idea. Kyle is a far more modern building.

“If this switch does go ahead, I suspect the Queen Margaret building will get the refurbishment it’s badly needed for many years.”

But Mr Garland went on to assure parents that they will be able to make their views known.

He said: “If the council decides to progress this idea we will then undertake full and formal consultation with the two school communities – pupils, parents and staff.

“No decisions have been made at the current time and our focus will be on ensuring we provide our pupils with the best possible educational experience.

“That will remain at the heart of any decisions we make regarding any of our schools.

“Strong progress has been made in recent years in the educational performance of pupils throughout South Ayrshire.”

But Ayr MSP John Scott expressed concern over the suggestion.

He told the Post: “I will be seeking urgent talks with the council’s education department over what exactly is being discussed in respect of the Kyle and Queen Margaret campuses and I have immediate concerns as to what any such move would mean in terms of the enormous disruption that it would inevitably cause hundreds of existing pupils, teachers and parents.”

He added: “Both Kyle Academy and Queen Margaret Academy are excellent schools which provide a high quality education for local pupils and I find it hard to see what justification there could be on educational grounds for any proposal to swap campuses.”