Major concerns about the new school to replace Braeview Academy and Craigie High have prompted a union to resign from its project board.
The Dundee branch of the EIS teaching union has left the East End Community Campus board in protest, warning the £60 million building is “far too small” and design features are “educationally unacceptable”.
Union reps say there are fewer classrooms than at present and some teaching rooms have no windows.
Other areas of concern include large open teaching areas – which the union says NONE of its members consulted were in favour of – a lack of teacher input in classroom design for practical subjects and no swimming pool.
Dundee City Council gave planning permission for the new school to be built on the site of the old St Saviour’s High School last week, and construction is due to begin in the spring.
But David Baxter, of Dundee EIS, said: “We have major concerns that the new school will not meet the learning needs of young people, especially given the expected large numbers of pupils with ASNs (additional support needs) in the future school population.
“We are also of the view that teaching staff were not fully consulted before internal plans were shared and that as a result, the near-final plans have some wholly inappropriate features.”
Classes ‘full to max’
While national requirements in terms of floor space may be met, Mr Baxter said there will be fewer classrooms for more pupils.
He said: “The view of members is that all the classes will be used every period and each class will be full to its max.
“Given the high levels of pupils with ASN which will attend the school in future, this is, amongst many other things, educationally unacceptable.”
‘Crucial’ insight of experienced teachers in practical subjects, such as home economics and art, had not been considered in the design, he said.
He also claimed teachers were worried about how open space would be managed and properly supervised in a school of potentially more than 1,800 pupils.
And he said the lack of a swimming pool was despite parents, pupils and staff overwhelmingly stating their preference for one, particularly given the cost of living crisis and lack of central swimming facilities in the city.
The EIS branch informed the council’s children and family service convener Stewart Hunter and executive director Audrey May by letter that it was resigning from the board due to lack of consultation over the internal design.
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The council will reply directly to this letter in due course.”
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