A new idea for much needed schools

We annouced today proposals for Local School Building Trusts as a new way of delivering schools for Edinburgh. This is an exciting and radical proposal that puts local people and in particular pupils first. While Public Private Partnerships have successfully delivered hundreds of new schools throughout Scotland it is tome to look at alternative approaches that will bring added value to building new schools.

The first advantage of the Local Trust approach is the ability to introduce a democratic board structure which will involve the local community. Local representatives of the school board, teachers, pupils, community councils and representative neighbourhood organisations as well as local councillors would make up the majority of board members. It is important the board is not only representative – but seen to be representative - with no one organisation or group being in the majority. This arrangement will promote the principle local ownership and allow for local scrutiny at each stage of the school’s development and construction.

Other individuals with specific skills and knowledge could also be invited on to the board at the discretion of nominated members. It would also be advantageous to appoint an independent chair to oversee the running of the trust, to ensure its impartiality”.

The board would be responsible for all aspects of the development of the new school. It would specifically be responsible for,

The design of the school

Ensuring the school and the wider community is consulted

Developing and submitting the planning application

Ensuring funding is in place before the start of the construction phase. Funding would be a combination of receipts from sites and developers profit from building on the site, prudential borrowing and support from the Scottish Government as a precursor to the Scottish Futures Trust”