PUPILS LEFT HIGH AND DRY

Published 30 Sep 2009 15:59 9 Comments

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BARRHEAD has been snubbed in its bid for a new high school and the decision has been branded a 'slap in the face' for the town.

This week the Scottish Government announced it will plough £1.25bn into the building of 14 schools across Scotland.

And although Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, revealed cash has been set aside for a new Eastwood High, there is fury that Barrhead High has been overlooked.

MSP Ken Macintosh said: "It is an unbelievable decision.

"It is a total slap in the face for Barrhead, I don't understand the decision and don't think there can be any excuses for it.

"I hope they are not expecting us to believe that Barrhead will be included in a future batch of funding because it won't be.

"If they were going to build a second school in East Renfrewshire they would build them both together.

"There is no way a new Barrhead High will be built by this government - they have said no to the next generation of Barrhead High pupils.

"They have said no to the town.

"Raising pupils' expectations, making them believe they are getting something and then not giving them anything is insulting to say the least."

The MSP said he was happy for the pupils of Eastwood High but added it is vital the people of Barrhead continue to fight for a new high school.

He said: "The Government kept us waiting two and a half years for no reason because they wanted to use the Scottish Futures Trust but are actually funding the schools through traditional capital procurement.

"For everyone from Neilston and Uplawmoor who use Eastwood High it is great news and I am pleased for them but Eastwood shouldn't have been waiting two and a half years either.

"I will not be allowing them to get away with this but the funding is an executive decision that doesn't need the approval of Parliament.

"All we can do now is ask all the parents and pupils of the school to write to the Government and ask why their school has been forgotten about. It will be hard for pupils to pick themselves up but that is what they will have to do.

"I will still be campaigning for a new Barrhead High and will make sure this decision is mentioned at every opportunity and will bring it up at Parliamentary Questions."

Angry parents told the News about their frustration that a new high school will not be built in the town.

Marie Boyd whose daughter attends the school said: "Barrhead High is in a desperate state of disrepair.

"We were told by that funding for a new school would be approved. I think it is disappointing that Eastwood gets a new school and Barrhead gets nothing."

Mum-of-two Lisa Brown also hit out at the snub.

She added: "I am shocked by this decision.

"Everyone thought that the Scottish Government would fund a new Barrhead High School because of the state it is in.

"I think it is unfair that Eastwood benefits from the funding and our kids don't."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Based on the criteria which has been agreed by COSLA, Eastwood High has been selected as a participant in the first phase of the new school building programme.

"Barrhead High will be eligible for consideration as part of the next phase of the new school building programme.

"The Scottish Futures Trust has a central role in co-ordinating, facilitating and managing this new school building programme. SFT will work alongside the local authorities, assess proposals and ensure that they can secure the best value for money.

"The funding will initially be provided through additional capital grants by the Government to the relevant local authorities, although we want to explore using different funding approaches, such as the Non-Profit Distributing Model, for later phases and will look to the Scottish Futures Trust to provide advice on that."

This article appeared in Barrhead News 30 Sep 09

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Alan Farquhar
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Oct 2, 15:08
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it's an outrageous snub by all concerned.

i attended barrhead high in the seventies and was shocked to take my kids to their tennis lesson at the high school...and find that nothing has changed for 35 years, apart from the swimming pool being closed. my kids are 9,7 and 5 years old i would like them to attend a nice new barrhead high school and not existing run down derelict building.

when does the campaigning start??

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LindaB
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Oct 2, 17:42
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I also attended Barrhead High School in the early seventies, having moved from the old Barrhead High School in the Main Street, Barrhead.

The new school was newly built, state of the art and I hated every inch of it despite it being the only school in the area with a swimming pool.

The present High School is as the previous poster pointed out, is well under forty years in it's standing.

I understand "Mr.Farquehar" has young children who he would like to see go to a nice newly built new High School, but in my opinion, Barrhead should have looked after it's building better,

do they expect to build a new school every other year?

Although during the seventies, the existing school was considered the "best", and now it certainly looks the worst, I do not believe this a good enough reason to replace on a whim.

Barrhead got it's Brand Spanking New School but a few decades ago,

It hasn't stood the test of time unlike the old school, in the Main Street.

There are other schools in Scotland which are without doubt "falling down around the ears of their staff and their pupils",

and who, in my opinion are "priority" cases.

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Graham Ferguson
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Oct 5, 11:29
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Having read this article, I am shocked that the local council could do something like this and get away with it. Given how many years the pupils have campaigned for a new school - or at least additional funding for new equipment.

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LindaB
Unregistered User
Oct 8, 18:59
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Puplis campaigning? children campaining,

why? for what reason? they don't like the length of the corridor between classes? No, it must be the school meals, or the shape of the school, or ? or ?

or ?

Not old enough to drink, smoke, run their own lives, or even vote but old enough to campaign for a new school.

Sounds to me as though the Councillors are using a bit of emotional blackmail here by using the pupils of the second rate high school.

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Billy Turnbull
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Oct 16, 18:31
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I started the high school in 71 and it had just opened 1 or 2 years before that did it not?

Christ its only 40 years old, have they neglected the place or what

Dealston House rules by the way !!!

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Jenna Gillespie
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Oct 18, 12:22
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I think its outrageous that we can't get a new school.

I go to Barrhead High the now but i'll be leaving soon but my brother has just started and i dont want him going to school thinking that its a jail and no-one cares about education.

They made it look presentable at the front but when you walk it there's chewing gum, rust & litter everywhere.

If we had i better modern school maybe the pupils would care more.

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Billy Turnbull
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Oct 18, 14:13
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As I said dear its not really an old school but in reality why should they spend millions when they don't care about the future they know they only need a handful of qualified people every year....the UK is dead as far as working is concerned they don't want to use British labour etc they can get it done abroad for slave labour in India etc the British government would rather help foreigners than it own people but we still go out and vote for the devious liars

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L.Morrison
Unregistered User
Oct 22, 10:08
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QUOTE "I think its outrageous that we can't get a new school.

I go to Barrhead High the now but i'll be leaving soon but my brother has just started and i dont want him going to school thinking that its a jail and no-one cares about education.

They made it look presentable at the front but when you walk it there's chewing gum, rust & litter everywhere.

If we had i better modern school maybe the pupils would care more.

" END OF QUOTE.

And who drops the litter, chewing gum etc?

You lot are pampered and spoiled, "they made it look presentable"? who are "they"? those who run after students hand and foot, who pays their wages? your parents do!

Education has nothing to do with how a school looks, education is about learning and responsibilty and growing up.

That the pupils may / take pride in their school if it was done up, or rebuilt is just a nonsense, the pupils should be taking pride in the education they receive and in themselves for being responsible young adults,

I would not vote to give you / Barrhead School a new building.

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pete
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Jan 18, 08:09
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What the heck is wrong with you winers,The building needs repaired and some remodelling which is cheaper and more effective.If you stopped with the mass hysteria and stopped to think what could be done with half of the new school cost to this building you would be amazed.Perhaps you would have made significant progress by now even.So enough of the childish attitude...they got a new school so we must have one too or else.If someone gets a hip replacement do you sheep all need one as well because they got one?This is a modern type of building that can be remodelled into almost anything.Just watch out it doesent get flattened and made into cheap duff flats...they would if they could you know :0 Thanks danny d another triumph again...NOT

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