Category Archives: education

Pupils risk injury as windows wrongly fitted in new island schools

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Update – the comhairle said that  Bayble, Barvas, Balivanich and Daliburgh are the ones affected by the window problems.

MOST of the windows in new primary schools in the Western Isles must be inspected and reinstalled after several incidents which could have seriously injured pupils.

It has emerged that, possibly because they have been installed the wrong way round, rooflight windows have dropped without warning into classrooms and other internal rooms and pupils and staff have escaped injury only by chance. nicky1

Education chiefs were also aghast to learn that many windows at four of the recently-completed island schools, part of a project costing up to £70 million, have been installed inside out with the toughened panes – designed to withstand blows from footballs and other playground missiles – being on the inside.

Fears for pupils’ and staff safety heightened among island education chiefs recently after one of the wrongly-installed toughened panes shattered in an incident which the council has mysteriously described in internal reports as “a spontaneous fracture”.

Western Isles Council last night (WED) stressed it would not be paying anything extra for the detailed inspection and repair programme which must now be undertaken by builder FMP, a collaboration of three Northern Ireland’ construction firms –Farrans (Construction) Ltd, H&J Martin and Patton Group (which is now in administration).

The suspicion is that a series of window defects have resulted in many unsafe installations throughout the schools but the precise cause and extent is still not known. The report of the findings will should be ready next week.

Among other ongoing defects reported by teachers at the largest school, the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway which opened to pupils last August, are failures of the automatic ventilation systems, failure to detect the presence of people by automated lighting systems, classroom smartboards being installed too low to be seen by pupils and heating pipes clanking so noisily that lessons have had to be abandoned.  Many reports have also been filed about leaking roofs at the schools.

One teacher wrote in a report in December: “Our school looks fantastic from the outside. Inside, it is a different story with a cheap plasticky finish on everything and a different system failing with almost daily regularity.
“This is not just a series of minor snagging problems. I’m afraid to say that this is a shoddy mess.”

It also emerged that two rooflights suddenly fell into the Balivanich School on Benbecula in separate incidents in the last few months. According to a source on Benbecula, the window crashed onto the desk of the school secretary. However, it happened on a Saturday so the office was unoccupied.

Three weeks ago, a similar incident happened at Sgoil an Rubha, the new school at Bayble on Lewis.

The islands’ council confirmed that the detailed inspection which it has now ordered, and which may eventually cost scores of thousands of pounds, will include the following:

  • A photo survey of all the rooflights prior to works
  • The removal of pressure plates, trims and weather tapes
  • A photo survey of existing clearance and spacings
  • The removal of the glazing units which will then be checked for defects before being reinstalled properly

A full report on the findings of the inspection will be produced by FMP on all the works. In the meantime, the council insisted, protective measures are in place at all rooflights.

There has been a lot of recent negotiation over whether there was a need to reverse the windows which were found to be toughened on the inside.

The council said: “The current specification in terms of the lower pane being toughened meets the guidance and British Standards. However, in consultation with the designers, it has been agreed to reverse the glazing panels during the inspection works.
“This change to specification will still comply with British Standards but will also give the additional protection of an inner pane of laminate glass in the unlikely event of a further case of spontaneous fracture of the toughened glass.”

The new schools each secured Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent accreditation, one of the most comprehensive and widely-recognised measures of a building’s environmental performance. That was before the window flaws were spotted.

The four island schools where almost every window will have to be checked and reinstalled are at the 100-pupil West Side Primary School at Barvas, the 150-pupil Balivanich Primary School on Benbecula, the 175-pupil Point Primary School at Bayble, Isle of Lewis and the 90-pupil Daliburgh Primary School on South Uist.

The builders have so far not responded to a request for comment.

Another court hearing to decide on school closures

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COMHAIRLE STATEMENT

Comhairle Welcomes Judicial Review Appeal Decision

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is pleased to note that an appeal by the Scottish Government against a judicial review decision which backed Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s proposals to close two schools and end S1/S2 provision at a third, has not been successful.

The appeal decision did rule that the call-in notices were not automatically invalid which will require further discussion on procedure.

The three schools are Seilibost and Carloway Primary Schools and Shawbost S1-S2. The Comhairle had agreed to close the schools and end the S1/S2 provision but the decisions were called in by the Scottish Government.

The Comhairle subsequently sought a judicial review of the Scottish Government decision which was successful. The Scottish Government then appealed the decision of that review.

Today’s decision rules that it was legitimate for the Scottish Government to call in the Comhairle decisions but that Ministers did not then act properly in reaching their decision that the Comhairle could not close the schools and end the S1/S2 provision at Shawbost.

A hearing will be held to determine the next stages in the process.

Cllr Angus Campbell, Leader of the Comhairle, said: “This clearly shows the legislation is flawed on this issue and it is imperative that this is sorted. The legislation needs to be clear for local authorities and government.

We will consider carefully the terms of today’s judgement however it is clear the Judicial Review decision for the Comhairle has been upheld . I would call upon the Scottish Government to respect the twice-expressed will of the Comhairle that educational provision cease at these three schools. This would end uncertainty for parents, pupils and staff and allow us to move on with providing the best possible education for pupils in the Western Isles.”

Chair of Education and Children’s Services Cllr Catriona Stewart said: “I am pleased that the Judicial Review decision has been upheld and that the judgement contains no criticism of the way the Comhairle conducted the processes and decisions in this matter.

I would hope that we can now move on from this and provide a way ahead for our schools and communities.

Seilibost currently has 6 pupils, Carloway 15 and the S1/S2 provision at Shawbost 34. The schools and the S1/S2 provision are due to close in June.

Hydrogen vehicles in the Outer Hebrides

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An invitation to tender for the supply of hydrogen vehicles to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland has been published by Western Isles Council.

The vehicles, either passenger cars or vans, will be deployed in Stornoway for an initial two-year trial period performing normal operational duties.  The vehicles will refuel at the council’s existing renewable hydrogen refuelling station, the H2seed Facility.

The hydrogen vehicle deployment is an integral part of the H2growth Project, a collaboration between the authority and Lews Castle College, the University of the Highlands and Islands (LCC) and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The project will evaluate the technical and financial performance of the hydrogen vehicles and the associated fuelling infrastructure under normal operation and will create a low-carbon vehicle workshop facility at LCC.

Training for local vehicle maintenance staff will enable all scheduled maintenance to be undertaken locally.

Council leader Angus Campbell said: “Using the region’s renewable resources to benefit the region’s communities and realise a low carbon future is a strategic aim for the Comhairle.  Hydrogen vehicles running on locally produced renewable hydrogen tackles both issues.”

He said communities producing renewable transport fuel from their own energy generation schemes will provide increased local economic benefit as well as reducing a reliance on imported high-carbon fuels.”

The contract to supply the hydrogen vehicles will be awarded in early November 2012 and the vehicles expected to be operating in Stornoway by May 2013.

The council and the college have been exploring jointly the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland for the past seven years. The region’s interest in hydrogen and its use as a transport fuel stems from:

•          the high cost of imported conventional fuels – local renewable fuel production could provide greener fuels, reduce dependency on imported fuels and lead to economic benefits being retained on the islands;

•          the availability of large renewable energy resources (in particular wind power) the exploitation of which is constrained by the region’s weak connection to the UK electricity network – local hydrogen generation would allow greater use of these energy resource;

•          the desire to create new employment opportunities in the region, in both fuel generation and end uses.

So far the collaboration between CnES and LCC has established:

•          The H2seed Facility, the Comhairle’s renewable hydrogen fuelling station.  The H2seed Facility produces “green” hydrogen from excess renewable electricity.

•          The Hydrogen Laboratory at LCC’s Stornoway campus. The Hydrogen Laboratory is actively involved in hydrogen education and research programmes and projects.

Ammonia spill closes Nicolson Institute

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A spill in the science labs has resulted in the early closure of the Nicolson Institute.

It will close early today as a precaution following a chemical spill at the school. The school will close at 2pm to allow the emergency services to deal with the spill.

School buses are being re-scheduled and there may be disruptions to other school and public bus services during the afternoon. The Comhairle apologises for any inconvenience.

Teachers and pupils hot under the collar as new “prison-like” Nicolson Institute goes into lockdown

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A lack of ventilation halted some attempts to organise classes on the first day of term at the new Nicolson Institute.

Pupils and teachers were left drenched in sweat and a temperature of nearly 30 degrees was recorded in one classroom.

One staff member, who asked not to be named, said many pupils complained of the heat and feeling claustrophobic as safety bars had been erected which she said gave an “unfortunate prison-like feel” to the school.

It was also claimed that the school went into a kind of “lockdown” at lunchtime and intervals with pupils unable to get access to teachers and other staff because of the enhanced security measures.

One senior pupil wrote on Facebook: “Few of us actually liked our first day there. Only one tiny window can open in most classrooms. It is so stuffy it is yuck. Our teacher was so hot she was sick and so were we.”

Western Isles Council meanwhile ignored the complaints and its senior figures hailed the first day as a great success.

The new school, which is owned by a private developer and leased back to the council, cost £29 million.

Alasdair Allan takes up parents’ concerns on school buses

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Press Release

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today sent a supportive message to parents concerned about school transport in the Western Isles. A number of parents have contacted Dr Allan unhappy about the Comhairle’s proposal to limit further the number of pupils who qualify for free transport to schools, and to charge for those living above the statutory distances of 2 miles for primary and 3 miles for secondary pupils.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“There is clearly great unease about road safety in many parts of the islands, where children have to use roads which do not have footpaths or pavements. A number of parents have been in touch with me about this issue in recent days, and I have taken up their concerns with the Comhairle, as, I know, have a number of councillors.

“I intend to meet soon with a number of affected parents and pursue this issue further, as it does strike me that parents’ views have not been fully considered. I hope that the suspension of these new rules until October will allow time for fuller consideration of parents concerns.”

Parents will march to protest school bus increases

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Click arrow above to hear Kristeen Munro explain their anger

Parents around the islands have reacted furiously to a letter from Western Isles Council telling them about changes to rules which will mean fewer pupils will qualify for free travel to school and the doubling of charges for those who must pay.

There is anger that a letter dated July 26 only reached the parents yesterday (Monday) – just three days before the new term begins.

Council letter arrived on Monday

Now a protest march has been organised for Wednesday afternoon to the council headquarters and about 100 parents have already indicated they will take part.

Mother-of-three Kristeen Munro said it was a disgrace that parents were only told of the changes the same week that the schools go back after the summer holidays. She was told that her son who attends the Nicolson Institute is no longer entitled to a free bus pass, although space permitting, he may be taken on the bus if he carries a pass costing £100.

She said: “Another huge concern is that where I live in Newmarket there are no pavements down Bakers’ Road or down Benside so it is not safe for them to walk there in the kind of weather we get here when they are liable to be blown into the road.
“I have brought this to the attention of the council but they are really not interested.”

Mrs Munro said her own councillor, Gordon Murray, was 100 per cent behind the parents and they had been informed that Alasdair Allan MSP and other councillors were prepared to take their case officially to the local authority to try and force a climbdown.

The parents are also unhappy about council assurances that parents who cannot afford the new charges will be helped. She said it merely stated that recipients of a council clothing grant may be entitled to help but that it wasn’t definite.

The protest march is due to leave the South Beach car park at 3pm on Wednesday and then walk to the council.

Western Isles Council has not responded so far about the parents’ protests.

A glimpse of the new Nicolson

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The new Nicolson Institute in Stornoway was handed over by the Irish contractors to the Scottish facilities manager on Monday ahead of the new school term on August 16.

With a school roll of 1,100 pupils, the new Nicolson Institute is the largest secondary school in the islands and is adjacent to the existing site on Springfield Road in  Stornoway.

While the old school consisted of several buildings spread over a large, disjointed campus, the new school, a snip at a capital construction cost of £29 million, is a single new-build providing more than 13,500 sq metres of floor space. The campus also includes the retained C-listed Pentland Building and the B-listed Matheson Hall which have been extensively upgraded and refurbished to provide Craft Design and Technology and Information and Communication Technology facilities  – the ICT hub will also provide centralised services to all schools in the Western Isles.

A second phase of works, to demolish the old school and build a bus and car park as well as a full-size grass pitch, will begin in mid-August for completion in January 2013.

The new Nicolson Institute is the fifth of the six schools in the £125 million Western Isles Schools Project (WISP) to be handed over on time and budget following Point, Balivanich and West Side Primary Schools as well as the first phase of the Sir E Scott School in Tarbert.

Councillor Norman A MacDonald, the comhairle convener and chair of Sgoiltean Ùra, said: “We are delighted that FMP [the main contractor] have maintained their 100% success rate in the delivery of the new schools. All of the schools have been delivered on time and on budget and is a testament to their collaborative working methods and demonstrates that even in remote locations such as the Western Isles, joint project delivery and a desire to succeed can deliver real achievements.”

Cllr Angus Campbell, the leader of the comhairle, added: “The new Nicolson Institute is the largest single part of the hugely successful new schools programme. I am confident that these new schools will demonstrate that putting quality education in quality buildings will allow us to enhance our tremendous record of the highest educational attainment right across these islands.”

Sgoiltean Ùra is the Special Purpose Vehicle established to design, procure, build and maintain the schools on behalf of the comhairle. Faithful + Gould are retained by Sgoiltean Ùra to provide project management and cost consultancy advice. FMP is a joint venture entity comprising three Irish contractors Farrans, H&J Martin and Patton. Stirling-based FES FM Ltd is the facilities management contractor which will maintain all the WISP schools until 2039.

The design team comprises 3DReid (Architects), Goodson (Civil and Structural), Wallace Whittle (M&E) and TGP Landscape Architects.