Thousands of East Dunbartonshire parents will receive a newsletter this week with an update on the Council's £100m PPP schools project.
The four-page newsletter shows artists' impressions of the six new schools—Bearsden Academy, Bishopbriggs Academy, Douglas Academy, Kirkintillch High, St. Ninian's HS and Turnbull HS—and describes the design and layout of the buildings.
In the autumn, there will be displays showing design information, site layout, external facilities and internal layouts for each school. These will be open to school staff, pupils, parents, School Boards and the local people. Dates and venues are still to be confirmed.
Councillor Eric Gotts, Convener of the Education & Cultural Services Committee, hopes the images and school descriptions in the newsletter will impress parents. He said, "What we have to look forward to are six first class educational establishments, all with excellent facilities inside and out.
‘I am very excited by these designs and look forward to seeing the schools taking shape and being filled by local youngsters who will, I hope, reap the benefits of this massive investment in education in East Dunbartonshire.’
Bearsden Academy is designed around one large central courtyard with subject departments in the teaching wings surrounding this. Pupils arrive through a lower ground floor entrance through a social/dining space. This leads into the main social hub which is the focal point of the school.
The social space is of double height drawing in light from across the courtyard. The open and visible space in both the courtyard and the social hub eases supervision for the school. Within the social hub pupils have access to assigned year group spaces and their own personal lockers. At the end of the block housing the social hub, is the internal sports accommodation with access to the external sports pitches.
Throughout, the building is bright and airy and there is good aspect. The teaching wings are three storey high and the corridors are broken with interesting spaces that can be used for either display of pupils work or independent or group study. Within each subject department there is a flexible space, with partitioning, which can be used as an additional classroom or for small groups engaged in independent learning. Within each of the general classrooms there is a teaching wall which incorporates storage with access to an interactive whiteboard.
Bishopbriggs Academy is designed around one large central courtyard with subject departments in the teaching wings surrounding this. Provision for the introduction of drama to the curriculum has been made and a Gaelic room has been incorporated within the modern languages department.
Pupils will arrive from Wester Cleddens Road, Angus Avenue and the Woodhill area and enter the school through the landscaped courtyard shown on the plan. Two main pupil entrances are provided. Additional pupil entrances are located around the building and all lead directly into the social space.
The social space is of double height, drawing light in from across the courtyard. The open and visible space in both the courtyard and the social hub eases supervision for the school. Within the social hub pupils have access to assigned year group spaces and their own personal lockers. The block extending into the courtyard provides a cafeteria area for pupils to enjoy during lunch and break times. Additionally, the space provides an excellent facility for senior pupils.
Located in the block adjacent to the car park is the internal sports accommodation with access to the external sports pitches. Within each subject department there is a flexible space, with partitioning, which can be used as an additional classroom or for small groups engaged in independent learning. Within each of the general classrooms there is a teaching wall which incorporates storage with access to an interactive whiteboard.
Douglas Academy is built around two central courtyards which provide aspect throughout the building. Between the two courtyards is the double height social space which links directly to the performance and assembly spaces situated at the rear of the school.
The building is bright and airy and is two storeys high. The pupil entrance, at the front of the school, leads directly into the social space with doors on either side to permit access to the courtyards. Within the social hub pupils will have access to assigned year group spaces and their own personal lockers. Departmental areas are located around the courtyards. In each subject department there is a flexible space, with partitioning, which can be used as an additional classroom or for small groups engaged in independent learning. Within each of the general classrooms there is a teaching wall which incorporates storage with access to an interactive whiteboard.
On the ground floor, close to the assembly and performance areas, the music school is given prominence but without sound intrusion to other areas of the school. The music school enjoys access to a small external courtyard which may be used for intimate performances. Internal PE facilities are located at the rear of the school and in close proximity to the external sports
pitches.
Kirkintilloch High School is built around a central courtyard. Subject departments are located in the teaching wings surrounding this. The main entrance to the school will be from Waterside Road. Pupils arrive from either Waterside Road or from the existing entrance at Briar Road, which will be pedestrian access only. Pupils enter at ground level, from the tree lined avenue and to the right of the entry is immediate access to the double height social space which leads onto to the courtyard.
The open and visible space in both the courtyard and the social hub eases supervision for the school. Within the social hub pupils will have access to assigned year group spaces and their own personal lockers.
The social hub links directly to the assembly and performance spaces with the music and drama departments wrapped around these spaces. This enables the school to capitalise on opportunities for performance. The external PE facilities are situated around the school building. Internal PE facilities are located to the left of the pupil entrance.
Within each subject department there is a flexible space, with partitioning, which can be used as an additional classroom or for small groups engaged in independent learning. Within each of the general classrooms there is a teaching wall which incorporates storage with access to an interactive whiteboard.
St Ninian's High School is a three storey building that has four distinct areas which converge to the double height social hub in the heart of the school. The four areas accommodate the subject departments and the management functions of the school. Pupils enter the school from the main access road at Bellfield Avenue, the pathway from the canal and from the rear of the school. All pupil entrances lead directly into the social space which adjoins the assembly and performance spaces and is close to the music department. Within the social hub pupils will have
access to assigned year group spaces and their own personal lockers.
Within each subject department there is a flexible space, with partitioning, which can be used as an additional classroom or for small groups engaged in independent learning. Within each of the general classrooms there is a teaching wall which incorporates storage with access to an interactive whiteboard. The oratory has presence and sits at the end of the wing overlooking the car park. Its presence is emphasised by the curved structure of the building. The sports pitches face towards the canal with the internal PE facilities reaching out towards the external facilities.
Turnbull High School is three storeys high and has been built around two central courtyards. The public entrance provides the school with an impressive civic presence and has the oratory grandly placed above it. The pupil entrance is clearly defined in the centre of the building and leads directly into the double height social space which adjoins the assembly and performance space. Within the social hub pupils will have access to assigned year group spaces and their own personal lockers. In addition they can make use of the external courtyard.
Departmental areas are located around the courtyards and within each there is a flexible space, with partitioning, which can be used as an additional classroom or for small groups engaged in independent learning. Within each of the general classrooms there is a teaching wall which incorporates storage with access to an interactive whiteboard.
Close to the public entrance is the existing Games Hall which will be extended to accommodate the required internal PE facilities. External sports pitches are located in close proximity to the Games Hall.
Original news release at eastdunbarton.gov.uk
