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Shared campus schools to go ahead Shared campus schools to go ahead
(about 7 hours later)
North Lanarkshire Council is to move ahead with its shared campus model for new build schools after they were endorsed by an independent report.North Lanarkshire Council is to move ahead with its shared campus model for new build schools after they were endorsed by an independent report.
The council agreed to stop building joint faith campuses in 2004 after objections from the Roman Catholic Church.The council agreed to stop building joint faith campuses in 2004 after objections from the Roman Catholic Church.
But a recent evaluation of existing shared sites said they were, in the most part, operating effectively.But a recent evaluation of existing shared sites said they were, in the most part, operating effectively.
The council will now consider any new joint campuses on a case-by-case basis.The council will now consider any new joint campuses on a case-by-case basis.
The Church said it still had concerns about shared sites and that they should only be considered as an option for primary schools with small rolls.
In 2004 the Roman Catholic Church began legal proceedings against North Lanarkshire Council's proposals for seven joint campus sites where denominational and non-denominational schools would shared facilities.In 2004 the Roman Catholic Church began legal proceedings against North Lanarkshire Council's proposals for seven joint campus sites where denominational and non-denominational schools would shared facilities.
The Right Rev Joseph Devine said the Church could not back the plans because of concerns the schools would lose their identity.The Right Rev Joseph Devine said the Church could not back the plans because of concerns the schools would lose their identity.
Eventually an agreement was reached allowing the primaries to go ahead but the council agreed that no further joint campus schools would be built until an evaluation of the shared campus experience was carried out. We are delighted that the Diocese of Motherwell has endorsed the report and is willing to support the building of further shared campus schools where the circumstances are appropriate Murdo Maciver North Lanarkshire Council Eventually an agreement was reached allowing the primaries to go ahead but the council agreed that no further joint campus schools would be built until an evaluation of the shared campus experience was carried out.
We are delighted that the Diocese of Motherwell has endorsed the report and is willing to support the building of further shared campus schools where the circumstances are appropriate Murdo Maciver North Lanarkshire Council The results of that evaluation were put before the council's learning and leisure committee earlier this week and the moratorium on shared campuses has been lifted. The results of that evaluation were put before the council's learning and leisure committee earlier this week and the moratorium on shared campuses has been lifted.
The review found the autonomy of the individual schools, including ethos and principles had been maintained, and the implementation of the Catholic Education Commission Charter had not been affected.The review found the autonomy of the individual schools, including ethos and principles had been maintained, and the implementation of the Catholic Education Commission Charter had not been affected.
It said that the majority of parental and community responses were supportive of shared campus provision.It said that the majority of parental and community responses were supportive of shared campus provision.
It recommended that "where appropriate to the individual circumstances" the shared campus model could be considered for future school builds.It recommended that "where appropriate to the individual circumstances" the shared campus model could be considered for future school builds.
The Diocese of Motherwell has endorsed the report's findings and agreed that the moratorium on further joint campus schools should be lifted.
'Unique identity''Unique identity'
Murdo Maciver, head of educational resources for North Lanarkshire, said: "Shared campus schools represent a win-win position. The council is able to build more schools and provide better facilities at each one.Murdo Maciver, head of educational resources for North Lanarkshire, said: "Shared campus schools represent a win-win position. The council is able to build more schools and provide better facilities at each one.
"Each school has its own unique identity but is able to work in partnership with its neighbour on activities of mutual benefit."Each school has its own unique identity but is able to work in partnership with its neighbour on activities of mutual benefit.
"Most importantly, parents, pupils and the wider community are very supportive.""Most importantly, parents, pupils and the wider community are very supportive."
He added: "We are delighted that the Diocese of Motherwell has endorsed the report and is willing to support the building of further shared campus schools where the circumstances are appropriate."He added: "We are delighted that the Diocese of Motherwell has endorsed the report and is willing to support the building of further shared campus schools where the circumstances are appropriate."
However, the Church said the shared campus model should only be consider where school rolls were not large enough to just two separate new build schools.
To say shared campuses represent a 'win-win position' is a bit too gung-ho, when the council has indicated that there may well be cases where joint sites are not the best proposition Gerry O'Brien Spokesman, Diocese of Motherwell Gerry O'Brien, spokesman for the Diocese of Motherwell, said: "Neither I nor Bishop Devine have seen this report and to say shared campuses represent a 'win-win position' is a bit too gung-ho, when the council has indicated that there may well be cases where joint sites are not the best proposition.
"Our view is that pupil roll should be the main test for deciding on appropriateness of shared campuses. Larger schools should remain free standing."
He added: "Healthy and open dialogue is continuing between the council and ourselves."
The positive evaluation of shared campus sites means the council can also move ahead with a consultation on a new joint campus primary school in Airdrie.The positive evaluation of shared campus sites means the council can also move ahead with a consultation on a new joint campus primary school in Airdrie.
The local authority said the shared campus option was the recommended solution for upgrading Rochsolloch Primary and Alexandra Primary. The Church said they would not approve a shared campus solution for upgrading Rochsolloch Primary and Alexandra Primary.