EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL A PROPOSAL DOCUMENT

x. The new campus will provide opportunities to enhance partnerships with other
agencies and services such as health and to develop a coherent approach to
support the most vulnerable young people and those at risk of missing out.
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The benefits for all young people who are likely to attend the school in the
future would be the same as for other pupils.
The merger of James Hamilton Academy and Kilmarnock Academy would
mean that all of the secondary schools in the town of Kilmarnock will have
been rebuilt to modern specifications. For this reason, we would anticipate
minimal placing requests, however three state of the art schools would also
contribute positively to meeting the aspirations of “Make it Kilmarnock”
attracting families and business to the town. All pupils in the town and
surrounding area would have access to the facilities during out of school
hours. Having three state of the art secondary schools within the town will
enable partnership working across the three schools increasing CPD
opportunities for staff and widening pupil experiences and learning choices.
These experiences have already been borne out in St Joseph’s and Grange
campuses.
Building on the experiences of Grange and St Joseph’s Campuses we would
anticipate minimal adverse effects. There have already been initial
discussions with Organisational Development regarding support for staff in
this transformational change and the development of dynamic leadership to
realise this exciting proposal. Through regular meetings with parent councils
and the parents forum opportunities for discussion will be available.
Our experience with the existing campuses of Grange and St Joseph’s
indicates that this new proposal will provide the range of positive outcomes for
pupils, young people and the wider community. It will help the Council to
deliver its transformational strategy and improve the life chances of all our
young people. In particular, the new secondary school would be fully inclusive
and accessible for all regardless of physical abilities.
A new merged secondary school will minimise revenue costs in relation to the
two present separate establishments. These economies will arise from
reduced management costs, there being a single unified management
structure, reduced administrative costs, reduced property costs (for example
energy and non domestic rates) and reduced facilities management costs
with single catering, cleaning and janitation teams. These revenue savings
will free resources for the pupils of the new merged school, but equally
children at all East Ayrshire schools will benefit as it will reduce pressure on
the overall Council and Departmental budget allowing more to be spent on
staffing and resources for everyone.
Modern design specifications will be used to reduce revenue costs, for
example through energy efficiency. This will also free resources for the
general benefit of children and young people in the Authority area.
Similarly, the new school will eradicate the present anticipated maintenance
costs for the existing buildings in terms of component renewal to keep them
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