The move to close Menzieshill High School and transfer all pupils and some of the staff to the new Harris Academy has already come under fire.
Labour’s education spokesman, Councillor Laurie Bidwell, has blasted the move announced on Friday, calling it “disappointing” and accusing the council of allowing the school to “wither on the vine” over the past few years.
Education director Michael Wood told The Courier of the main points to the “exciting” report to go before councillors on Monday.
He said: “The first is the closure of Menzieshill High School, pupils from there would move to Harris Academy on the same day for the start of term in August, 2016.
“That is quite important when you try to bring two schools together.
“We are talking about a consultation process period which will begin in January.
“It is a complex process and will also involve Education Scotland, the Scottish Government as well as local people and it will go back to the education committee in May.”
Mr Wood said he was unable to put a price on the proposed funding to come from the Scottish Futures Trust as it depended on the “complex process” of putting a bid together for cash.
He added that the city council would be liable for 40% of any cost of new schools to be built.
Mr Bidwell said: “It is very disappointing news that the SNP administration of the council are proposing to close Menzieshill High School as part of the review of the school estate.
“Pupils, parents and staff will be wondering why their secondary school has been allowed to wither on the vine as the school roll reduced over recent years.
“It was a missed opportunity that the catchment area of the school was not extended to increase the potential pupil numbers.
“For example, the Western Gateway area is currently in the catchment area for Baldragon Academy when Menzieshill High School is much closer in distance.
“There are many questions to be answered about this proposal.”
Education convener Stewart Hunter said: “This is not an easy option to bring forward, but the situation shows no sign of improving and this will only hinder the education of pupils.
“It would benefit the young people if they attended Harris Academy as they will be offered the full curriculum.
“This is not the case at Menzieshill High at the moment because of the implications of such a small pupil roll.”
PRIMARIES’ CATCHMENT AREAS REVIEWED
The City council also revealed plans to revise the catchment areas for Sidlaw View, Ardler, Downfield and Craigowl primary schools from August 2016, and to make St John’s High the associated secondary for St Clement’s RC primary.
Morgan Academy would also become the catchment school for Rosebank Primary.
Michael Wood said: “The Strathmartine ward is where we want to revise the catchment areas for Ardler, Downfield, Craigowl and Sidlaw View Primaries. Craigowl is over-occupied and that needs to be addressed.”
He pointed out that children from St Clement’s face a three-and-a-half mile journey to their catchment school, St Paul’s, and that the majority of
parents already choose to send their children to St John’s, which is just 1.6 miles away.
He also said that the council hopes to build a new campus to merge Longhaugh Primary School and nursery,
St Luke’s and St Matthew’s and St Vincent’s primaries in the east end of the city.
A planning application has been lodged by the council to build a primary school for 700 children in the Menzieshill area.
The city council is seeking consent for a development on land at Dickson Avenue.