The Inspection Reports commented on the "unsatisfactory" split site of the
School. We are pleased that Fife Council is now working to rectify this
situation. As of late 2009 Fife Council is planning for a single-site
school on the north-west corner of St Andrews, close to the University's Sports
Centre. The indicative date of opening is 2013..
Open Meeting 8
March 2010
The Rector presented to
the meeting the "story so far", and highlighted the various advantages to be had
with the proposed site on the North Haugh with access off the A91. The
text below is the webmaster's summary of the main points, and should not be
taken as the official record of the meeting.
The number of pupils expected over the next decade or so is estimated to be
between 1400 and 1500, though with a School designed to operate at 80% of
capacity that means that the School will be specified for 1700 pupil places
maximum. A split of the current school between St Andrews and the Tay
Bridgehead had been considered, but it was determined that the range of subjects
that could be taught in the smaller schools would be much less than currently
taught at Madras - the subjects that would have been at risk are shown in red in
the slides that can be accessed via the link below. The range of extra-curricular activities would also be
affected. A public meeting in the Bridgehead area about this was in favour
of the single school solution.
When looking for a site for the New Madras in St Andrews various sites were
considered. The slides below show first a possible site next to the A91,
then the Langlands A site that is up the escarpment, then the preferred
Langlands B site, which is immediately adjacent to the University's Sports Centre.
The University Sports Centre would be expanded and upgraded if these proposals
go ahead, with the possibility of a direct link between the two buildings. There is up to £50 million to build the New Madras, with up
to £40 million to come from the Council and £10 million from the University's
part. A business case for the new school should be taken to the Education
and Children's Services committee on 8 April 2010. There should then be
wide consultation in May 2010, followed by planning applications. The hope
is that construction should start in June 2011 for delivery of the building in
2013. The University and the school and Council are working closely
together. The University would provide the space near their sports centre
and would gain the 1833 part of the school's South St building. The
Council would retain the southern part of the South St site, as well a the Kilrymont Road site. Although the school and University would have an
agreement on shared use of sports and other facilities near the new school,
Station Park playing fields would be retained.
Mr Jones then fielded many questions from the audience. His
presentation and answers appeared to be well received by those present. In
answers to questions he noted amongst other things the following:-
- the intention was still to use Station Park playing fields for sports to
some extent
- the internal design of the School was to be developed in consultation with
pupils, with Mr Jones favouring the sort of construction seen at Corby City
Academy
Corby
Business Academy
- amongst designs being considered was the possibility of three wings to fit
in with the three school houses. It may be than many classrooms will
have glazed walls between them and wider corridors with breakout spaces.
Some classrooms may have moveable acoustic walls to permit more flexible use
of space. The arts section may be open plan.
- there could still be separation between pupil and student use of shared
facilities
- the country's financial issues were not expected to affect the capital
spend by Fife Council on the New Madras.
- the building of the New Madras is not linked to proposals for a western
expansion of St Andrews.
Update Document
from Fife Council - Public Meeting
St Andrews Community Council Meeting Feb 2010
Link to minutes from this meeting, which included a presentation and
discussion with Mr A Paul and Mr J McLaughlin of Fife Council about the New
Madras.
26 January 2010 -
Local Development Group Meeting
December 2009 updates
December statement from Fife Council to interested parties updating us on
the current state of the proposals.
Fife Council has now issued a press release about an agreement with the
University of St Andrews about the way in which a New Madras should be built to
the West of the University's Sports Centre. An associated framework of
items to be agreed between the University and the Council was published for the
3 December meeting of Fife Council's Policy, Finance, and Asset Management
Committee.
A number of important aspects of the proposed New Madras were discussed at
the Fife Council Policy, Finance, and Asset Management Committee on 3 December:-
Education and Children's Services Committee
of 12th November, 2009
This looks like the big meeting for decisions on the New Madras.
We understand that a New Madras on a site to the West of the University's
Sports Centre is now the proposed way forward.
Madras College Progress Update
The local stakeholders' group asked that an overview briefing document
should be put together by Education Services since many parents in the area were
unaware of even the most basic facts about site options.
Overview document from Fife Council, 26 October 2009
Parent Forum AGM
The Chair's presentation included a
summary of recent history of the discussions about the New Madras. The
meeting was told that Fife Council were considering the two options that
were left, which are
i) A refurbishment and extension of the Kilrymont Site Building
ii) A new build School in collaboration with the University near the University
Sports Centre
The meeting of about 60 people voted to show their preference. Every vote
that was cast was for the new build school on the western edge of St Andrews
Stakeholders Group Meeting 15 September 2009 inc
Report of the Madras College Co-location Working Group
Courier Article on School Plans discussed at St Andrews Community Council
Letter from Outgoing Chiair of the Madras Parent Council
Courier Articles on Surprising Developments regarding selection of site for
the New Madras
Fife Council Design Brief
Design Brief from Fiife Council,
received by webmaster 21 August 2009
Memo from Fife Council 12 August 2009
"At the meeting of the Local Development Group held
on 4th August it was indicated that further information was required and it was
unlikely that a decision would made by the Education and Children's Services
Committee at its meeting of 20th August 2009 on whether to invest in a new build
school in St Andrews West or in the renewal and extension of Kilrymont. I am
writing to let you know that an update report will be considered by that
Committee on 20th August 2009.
It is considered that further site assessments and discussions should take
place in relation to the new build option before the business case is presented
to the Committee for a decision on which option to pursue and that in the
meantime both a new build school at a site in St Andrews West and the renewal
and extension of Kilrymont continue to be developed. In order to ensure delivery
of the school by June 2013, a report on the outcome of those further
investigations and discussions will be submitted to the Education and Children's
Services Committee at the meeting scheduled for 12th November 2009. In the
meantime it has been recommended that the Policy, Finance and Asset Management
Committee be asked at the meeting scheduled for 10th September, to approve
capital funding of a maximum of £40m to implement the project.
An update will be provided to the Group at the meeting scheduled for 15th
September.
Morag Wallace
Partnerships Manager
Corporate Asset Management Service
Fife Council"
Stakeholders Group Meeting 4
August 2009
Stakeholders Group Meeting 23 June 2009
Stakeholders Group Meeting 28 May 2009
Stakeholders Group Meeting and Parent Council Meeting 6 May 2009
Summary of minutes from our representative before the official draft minutes
(above) were distributed:-
The Rector reported that he and others had seen some new school buildings.
He was impressed with Corby Business Academy, with buildings that contained
useful features and which may have been built at a cost that could be met by the
Fife budget. He had also seen Thomas Deacon Academy, which was very
impressive, but which cost some £84 million, and so was outwith the budget for
the new Madras, which is around £30 million. Glass walls between rooms and
corridors looked interesting in the way that they allowed everyone to be in
better view. Good quality facilities encouraged people to look after them.
The standard of facilities for pupils should be every bit as good as for the
adults in the building.
Andy Primmer is the Parent Representative from our Parent Council on the
Stakeholder Group. He reported that Fife Council was currently evaluating
the business case for various different options for the new Madras.
Consultations had taken place with school staff and some pupils. A
swimming pool was not included in any option due to the large capital and
running costs. A possible future solution with a community use swimming
pool adjacent to the School may yet be an option. A further meeting of
stakeholders is to be held on 28 May. The final decision on the New Madras
is expected at the August meeting of the Education and Children's Services
Committee. Various briefing papers had been made available to the
Stakeholder Group at or after this meeting, and these are made available below
as pdf files.
Fife Council has provided web pages with information on the planning and design
process for the new schools.
Open Meeting 26 March 2009
Fife Council held an open meeting at the School on 26 March. The Council's
plans were presented, and attendees were able to ask questions of the Council's
representatives. At this meeting there was also an attempt to determine
who would be the representatives of the local community and feeder primary
parent councils on the stakeholders group. The Madras Parent Council is
represented on this Group by Andy Primmer, who may be contacted by parents of
Madras pupils at
andypr -at- clara.co.uk (real
people please replace -at- by @).
An initial assessment of possible sites for the single-site school should be
made by the end of April 2009. Current sites under consideration include
the Kilrymont Road and South Street sites, as well as new-build sites in the
town. Other items being considered should be decided upon by the end of
June. The target is for the relevant Fife Council committees to choose the
preferred site option at their August meeting. The aim is to start
construction in September 2010. The indicative price for the New Madras is
30 million pounds.
Some Relevant Minutes and Briefing Notes from Fife Council
