Lochgelly South PS

Investigation work prior to installing a new modular unit on the grounds of the school showed a historic mine working beneath the grounds and part of the school.

Lochgelly was a mining village and there was a lot of coal mining in the area. When the mines closed, the shafts and workings underground were left. Through time, it is possible for these sites to become unstable and for the ground to shift.

The mine working below the school grounds has begun to deteriorate and will continue to do so. Through time, this will mean that the school building would begin to show signs of subsidence.

Subsidence damage results from loss of support to foundations when workings deteriorate. This could lead to severe cracking in masonry, tilting of rooflines and lintels, depressions in the ground, damage to utilities, and walls and floors leaning off plumb. There is no danger of a building suddenly collapsing due to subsidence.

Remedial works will take the form of consolidation, by drilling and grouting the site. Much of the drilling and grouting will be undertaken from the outside of the property. However, the size of the property (and the requirement to grout both seams) means that it is not physically possible to reach the entire footprint from outside. Therefore, drilling and grouting will have to be carried out within the building.

This will be highly intrusive and disruptive and extensive reinstatement works will be required. When all this is finished, the school will be reinstated and the modular unit put in place.

We expect the works to take a year to complete, starting in summer 2023.

There will be considerable activity at the site. This might need some temporary road closures or restrictions, at various times, to allow us to carry out the work safely.

The work may be noisy but this is work which needs to be carried out. We’ll try to keep disruption to a minimum and make sure that all work is carried out during normal working hours.

There may be some temporary road closures or traffic restrictions at certain times, to allow us to carry out the work safely.

We have held initial discussions with the Coal Authority, whose role is to provide support to properties affected by mine work. It is advised that you contact the Coal Authority directly if you have any concerns about your own property, telephone 0345 762 6848, email customerservice@coal.gov.uk

Technical report - Lochgelly South PS

Appendix

The nursery class will be accommodated within Sunflower Nursery (Macgregor Avenue). Locating the nursery here will give children access to up-to-date facilities in a purpose-built setting.

The plan is that the primary-age children will be relocated to St Kenneth’s Primary School.

Yes, the plan is that the two schools will continue to run separately from one location. While there may be spaces that are shared for lunch, assemblies or activities, the teaching will be carried out separately.

We’ve found that situations like this in the past have usually turned into a positive experience for both schools. We have a lot of experience of decanting children into other schools, sometimes as part of planned works but more frequently because of some unexpected circumstances. Examples of this are Tulliallan PS and Woodmill HS, who were hosted by neighbouring schools when their own buildings were being rebuilt following fires.

While there is an initial settling-in period, all the schools involved found that it had been quite a positive experience

Yes, both schools will keep their own identities.

We will provide buses to take the children to school and back every day.

Yes. The children will have time to get used to the idea before the move. They’ll be kept up to date with what’s to happen by the headteachers and teachers of both schools.

Please see the documents below, for more information:

• Technical Report - Lochgelly South PS
• Appendix - Site Plan for Lochgelly South PS

As part of the planning for the Lochgelly South PS decant, our main goal was to keep the school together in its entirety and as close to the Lochgelly area as possible. This limited the options that were available.

All local schools within a 4-mile radius of Lochgelly South PS were investigated as possible host schools, as well as Fife Council brownfield sites, where temporary accommodation could be located.

We will review the staffing models for both schools as we support the transition of the decant. We may look to employ more staff, as necessary, to make sure this move does not impact our young people.

There will be adult supervision on each bus.

The new modular building will be situated within the existing playground space. However, the area to the front of the school, which is currently used for the nursery, will be repurposed to provide the school with an outdoor classroom space.

If the weather is severe in any area of Fife, the Severe Weather Procedure is implemented, as it is in all schools.

Your janitor is as much part of the school as the cleaning and kitchen staff. He will be visible within St Kenneth’s RC PS, but will still have responsibility for the Lochgelly South PS Building. Where appropriate, the catering and cleaning staff will also transfer.

Advice from the mining and structural engineers is that Fife Council should work on the basis of vacating the building from August 2023. A decant plan will be in place from this date.

All schools within Fife have a link to an Educational Psychologist, who is available for advice as required.

The programme of works is scheduled to be completed within one school year. The team responsible for the project have experience in delivering this type of work, throughout the school estate.

The school are investigating local venues to allow for these events to take place in the Lochgelly area.

To ensure that our young people receive the statutory 25 hours of learning time per week, it will be necessary that they are picked up prior to 9 a.m. and dropped off after 3 p.m., to allow for travel time.

Transition arrangements will be carefully considered to support the needs of all young people, including those starting primary 1 and nursery.

We encourage all our young people to arrive at school on time. We can support them with morning routines, before the decant in August.

Local arrangements will be in place with the school to support the travel between locations in this instance.

Times for the school drop off and collection will be offset, allowing time to drop off and collect at both locations.

The grouting work is to protect the longevity of the building, to ensure that it is still there for many years to come. This work would be required whether we increased capacity or not.

Here is an example of how it might look:

Here's an example of how it might look:

Lochgelly South PS will continue to operate as a non-denominational school, hosted within St Kenneth’s RC PS building. The curriculum provided at Lochgelly South will not change.

There is current CCTV in operation at St Kenneth’s RC PS and, if it is deemed necessary, additional resources will be made available to protect the premises.

There will be no change to the current school admissions policy.

Catering have reviewed the provision and the appropriate staff and equipment will be in place, to facilitate meals for all our young people.

Where appropriate, some of the external storage will remain.

As part of the decant, planning consideration will be given to this. St Kenneth’s RC PS will not be disadvantaged by any changes made.

As part of the Council's cleaning specification, the Catering and Cleaning team will assess the requirements of each building and allocate staff and time appropriately.

In accordance with statutory guidance, there are sufficient sanitary facilities to accommodate the confirmed current school roll at St Kenneth’s RC PS, and the additional temporary school roll from Lochgelly South PS. This includes additional WC provision within the temporary modular classrooms.

Specific transition arrangements will be communicated by each Head Teacher. The Project Team are currently working towards ensuring the classroom spaces are available prior to the summer break.

All fobbed doors connected to the security system will default to open if the fire alarm sounds.

The toilets are located beside the cloakrooms of the modular accommodation.

An appendix of the committee paper that went to the Council's Cabinet meeting in December 2022 detailed all options that were investigated.

Yes, all buses will depart from Melville Street.  The proposed times of the buses have been communicated in the SWAY produced by the school.

The project team will liaise with the HT teacher at Lochgelly South to ensure the decant plan takes account of the work required to pack and staff will be supported to do this.

Active Schools will be consulted as part of the process to find ways to continue to deliver their programme.

Yes, there will be a staff member on each bus.

There is no need for a shelter at Melville Street as the buses will be available for children to board for a short time before the bus leaves.

If a school bus is late, then the contractor will notify the school who in turn will issue a Groupcall message to all parents/carers in the normal way.

We will be working with colleagues in Transportation Services to ensure the appropriate signage is displayed and a traffic management plan is created to support the buses' arrival and departure.

A Fire evacuation plan will be created jointly by each Head Teacher to ensure the building can be evacuated safely.