Towerlands Primary School Parent Council

We have a new home on the web:
http://TowerlandsPC.webs.com

All relevant information North Ayrshire Council release through their website relating to the school amalgamations (2010) can be found by clicking here.

Towerlands NOT to Close!!!

Towerlands is SAVED!!!

Towerlands Primary School was saved from closure yesterday (29th April 2008) in a landslide victory for our campaign.

Twenty NAC councillors out of thirty (two thirds) voted to retain Towerlands Primary School at the full council meeting held in Council Chambers.


Towerlands Primary School Parent Council would like to thank everyone who took part in our campaign, helping us to achieve this tremendous result...THANK YOU!!!


More details to follow... :D

Our Campaign Hits the Front Pages

Our campaign has hit the front page of the the local newspaper with the following story:

Irvine Herald Newspaper and Website 23rd April 2008 'North Ayrshire Schools Latest: One open, one shut', written by Eric McGowen

..."Towerlands could still escape the chop after Labour councillors Tom Barr and John Moffat announced they would vote to keep the school when the proposals go to the full council next week.

Lib Dem councillor Ruby Kirkwood also expressed her intention to vote to keep the school and if the SNP stick to their earlier vow to back protestors, Towerlands could yet survive."

Click HERE to read the full story!!!

We were also in the Irvine Herald with the following story:

Irvine Herald Newspaper and Website 23rd April 2008 'Towerlands: Votes plea to councillors', written by Eric McGowen

""TOWERLANDS protesters this week urged councillors to put party politics to one side and vote with their conscience at next week’s crunch meeting of the full council.

Campaigners remained in bullish mood on Tuesday despite the bitter blow of the Education Executive’s recommendation to close the school in August 2009 and amalgamate it with neighbouring Fencedyke and Broomlands Primaries.

Chris Archer, of the school’s parent council, said he expected the executive to push through the recommendation and claimed he still had faith in councillors to overturn the move.

His hopes have been boosted by support pledged from Labour councillors Tom Barr and John Moffat, Liberal Democrat Ruby Kirkwood and the SNP.""

Click HERE to read the full story!!!

Outcome of Education Executive Meeting – 22nd April 2008

Yesterday, 22nd April, the Education Executive at North Ayrshire Council decided to uphold the Education Department’s recommendation to amalgamate Towerlands, Broomlands and Fencedyke Primary Schools, which would result in Towerlands closing in August 2009.

Although this news is disheartening, the decision is NOT final and the fight is NOT over yet!!! We, the Parent Council, are confident that we can have the decision overturned at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 29th April 2008 (next week).

Even if Full Council decides on closure, our case will still be referred to the Scottish Government for a fully final decision...

We may be down, but we’re NOT out !!!


Full details of the Full Council meeting can be found HERE, or on the Dates for Your Diary !!! page

Consultation Period Finished - Outcome to be Decided

The consultation period has ended!!

We would like to offer a big Thank You!! to all who helped and supported our campaign.

We have submitted our objections to the proposal; held a very successful 'drive-slow' demonstration; submitted comments from our online and written petitions; featured in the local news on many occassions; have submitted our concerns about NAC's lack of regard for Article 8 of the Human Rights Act; have gained the support of the National Deaf Children's Society; and have had lots of help along the way from local residents, businesses and politicians.

We must now await a decision from NAC, and Councillors, who will ultimately take the next steps in deciding the fate of our school.

There will be a Special Meeting of the Education Executive - School Estates Review on Tuesday 22nd April 2008 at 11:15am; delegations from the Parent Councils most affected by the proposals will have an opportunity to address the Education Executive and present comments and observations on the proposal at 10:00am.


Any upcoming events/meetings will be posted on the Dates for Your Diary !!! page.

NAC Breaches Human Rights?

According to the under noted, NAC must ensure they show ‘justification’ for the interference in the private lives of citizens under Article 8 of the Human Right Act 1998; at no time in the Proposal to Amalgamate Towerlands Primary School with Broomlands and Fencedyke Primary Schools have NAC done so.

Costly legal action is a real possibility if the proposal is approved and parents/carers, and/or children, decide they want their human rights enforced; NAC must explain how it would deal with such an outcome and what potential costs are involved.



“A guide to the Human Rights Act 1998: Third Edition”, pages 21 & 22; Department for Constitutional Affairs, [Web] http://www.dca.gov.uk/peoples-rights/human-rights/pdf/act-studyguide.pdf, [Last Accessed 17 March 2008].

Article 8: Private life and family

3.68 You have the right to respect for your private and family life, your home and your correspondence. Article 8 is an example of a qualified right in the ECHR. This means that there is a framework in place against which any interference with your rights by the state must be judged to see if it is acceptable.

What does private life cover?

3.69 The concept of “private life” is broad. In general, your right to a private life means that you have the right to live your own life with such personal privacy as is reasonable in a democratic society, taking into account the rights and freedoms of others. Any interference with your body or the way you live your life needs to be justified. Your Article 8 rights include matters of self determination that may include, for example:
• freedom to choose your sexual identity
• freedom to choose how you look and dress
• freedom from intrusion by the media.


3.70 Your right to private life can also include the right to have information about you, such as official records, photographs, letters, diaries and medical information, kept private and confidential. Unless there is a very good reason, public authorities should not collect or use information like this; if they do, they need to make sure the information is accurate.61

3.71 Article 8 places limits on the extent to which a public authority can do things which invade your privacy about your body without your permission. This can include activities such as taking blood samples and performing body searches.62

3.72 In some circumstances, the state must take positive steps to prevent intrusions into your privacy by other people. For example, the state may be required to take action to protect individuals from serious pollution where it is seriously affecting their lives.63

What does family life cover?

3.73 Your right to respect for family life includes the right to have family relationships recognised by the law. It also includes the right for a family to live together and enjoy each other’s company. Unmarried mothers are always covered by “family”; foster families may be.

What does respect for my home cover?

3.74 You have the right to enjoy living in your home without public authorities intruding or preventing you from entering it or living in it. You also have the right to enjoy your home peacefully. This may mean, for example, that the state has to take action so that you can peacefully enjoy your home, for example, to reduce aircraft noise or to prevent serious environmental pollution. Your “home” may include your place of business. You don’t have to own your home to enjoy these rights.
What about correspondence?

3.75 Again, the definition of “correspondence” is broad, and can include communication by letter, telephone, fax or email.


Can a public authority interfere with my Article 8 rights?

3.76 Yes. But it would have to be shown that: the interference had a clear legal basis; the aim of the interference was either national security, public safety, protection of the economy, prevention of crime, the protection of health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others; it was necessary (and not just reasonable) to interfere with your rights for one of the permitted reasons; and that the interference was proportionate, going only as far as was required to meet the aim.

3.77 Before taking decisions affecting people’s rights under Article 8, a public authority will have to weigh all the competing interests carefully so as to justify any interference.

Natioanl Deaf Childrens' Society Hits Out at NAC's Proposal

The National Deaf Children's Society (NDSC) have added their voice to Towerlands' SaveOurSchool canpaign with their response to the proposal, submitted on the final day of consultation ; text from their submission is below:

Re: Proposed Closure of Towerlands Primary School and Hearing Impaired Unit

The National Deaf Children’s Society, as the national charity representing the interests of deaf children and their families in Scotland, has been approached by a number of parents of deaf children in Ayrshire regarding the proposed closure of the hearing impaired unit at Towerlands Primary School, Irvine.

I understand that under proposals currently being considered by North Ayrshire Council, there is a recommendation that Towerlands Primary School, with its associated specialist Hearing Impaired Unit (HIU), should be amalgamated with Fencedyke and Broomlands Primary schools.

I am sure you will appreciate that parents of deaf children who attend the specialist unit are extremely concerned and anxious at this proposal and the impact that this may have on the quality of the education experience for their child.

Parents tell us that the HIU at Towerlands Primary School is an integrated part of the school, resulting in an extremely deaf friendly ethos throughout, with hearing members of staff and pupils alike employing a positive and inclusive attitude to deafness.

As a result, deaf pupils feel included, and their peers and teachers at all stages of the school are able to communicate effectively with them.

It is of some considerable concern to NDCS that these children will be entering a new environment where existing pupils and staff will not have the same levels of deaf awareness and communication skills, and we share the concern of parents that this could lead to deaf pupils becoming isolated and, indeed, disadvantaged in accessing the wider curriculum.

Should the merger go ahead, NDCS Scotland, on behalf of parents of deaf pupils currently attending Towerlands Primary School, would therefore ask that the following issues are given urgent priority before any deaf child moves to the new school:

--- That the accommodation identified for the HIU at either Fencedyke or Broomlands Primary is equal to that currently used at Towerlands Primary School. That is, three dedicated rooms: one for primary 1-3 children, one for the upper school, and one sound-proofed room for visiting audiologists and speech and language therapists working with deaf pupils.

--- That the entire school environment in the receiving institution (i.e. either Fencedyke or Broomlands) is appropriately modified to meet the needs of deaf pupils before the merger goes ahead. That is, adaptations such as carpets in all classrooms, the installation of blackout blinds, loops systems and soundfield systems, must be completed before deaf pupils attend the school, and that deaf awareness training also be delivered to all members of staff and ideally classes.

--- That parents of deaf pupils are engaged at every stage on the proposals for the merger, the results of this consultation, and the next steps.

I am sure that you will be aware of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act as amended in 2005 to create Disability Equality Scheme Action Plans for any proposed change to education services, and I would therefore also request a copy of this in relation to the proposed merger for our records.

I know that you will share my desire for quality education provision for all deaf pupils in North Ayrshire. NDCS believes that, unless appropriate action is taken to ensure that any new home for the HIU in North Ayrshire can provide support at the same level as current provision from the moment that pupils are transferred as a minimum requirement of the merger, then the proposed closure of Towerlands Primary School will have a significant detrimental impact on deaf pupils.

As you may be aware, NDCS produces a wide range of training materials for schools in creating deaf friendly environments with appropriate acoustics suitable for the education of deaf pupils, and we have recently published a document in partnership with HMIE, Count Us In, which aims to promote excellence in deaf mainstream education. If your authority would like further details on these training materials and guidance, or if you would like to meet to discuss the issues raised in this letter, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Towerlands Hits the Headlines Again!!!

The Towerlands SaveOurSchool campaign has featured heavily in both local newspapers this week in the following articles:

• "Politicians call for rethink on schools"
• "Report"
• "Schools out as pupils protest over closures"
• "Irvine is brought to a standstill"
• "Research should not be up to the parents"

Click here to read articles in full!

Say NO! to closure!

Drive-Slow Procession - HUGE Success!!!

The drive-slow procession arranged by Towerlands, Springside and John Galt Primary Schools was a huge success with in excess of 80 cars joining in for the day. From Towerlands we had around 50 children, which equates to around one third of Towerlands' school kids walking out, effectively, on strike.

Click Here to read the 'Full Story'!!!

'Towerlands Against Closure' - The Full Report!!!

Towerlands Primary School Parent Council have today (5th March) submitted their written opposition to the proposed amalgamation of Towerlands Primary School with Broomlands and Fencedyke Primary Schools. Mr Jim Leckie from North Ayrshire Council Educational Services was presented with the report, "Towerlands Against Closure", outside of Council Chambers in Cunningham House, Irvine.

Click here to read the full report!!!

Say NO! to closure!
Dates for Your Diary !!!

'Drive-'Slow Procession a HUGE Success!!!

The drive-slow procession arranged by Towerlands, Springside and John Galt Primary Schools was a huge success with in excess of 80 cars joining in for the day. From Towerlands we had around 50 children, which equates to around one third of Towerlands' school kids walking out, effectively, on strike.

Towerlands Primary School Parent Council had already set aside the 7th of March to carry out some form of demonstration, so as soon as the Springside Committee contacted us to ask if we would like to join forces and pull off one huge act of defiance, we gladly put this date forward and joined forces with them and John Galt to organise the 'Drive-slow' Procession.

We discussed and agreed the format and route for the procession then applied for a licence through the Townhouse; after some intense negotiations with NAC Roads Department and Strathclyde Police, at Perceton House, amendments to the proposed route were made and the procession was given the go-ahead.

After the route was agreed the work really began with issuing permission slips to see how many parents would permit their children to walk out of school in protest, and we had to determine how many cars would be attending, making sure everyone was allocated a seat. Then the fun part, preparing vehicles with balloons; this was an immense amount of fun and know that all the children who took part had a great time preparing their own vehicles.

It was then time to leave school; our Head Teacher, Mrs White, kindly split the children into car-groups for us, and the parent/responsible adult signed to say they had received the children that they expected to. This was cross referred with the permission slips to ensure the school knew the whereabouts of every child.

We then lined up in Heatherstane Way ready for Springside to appear over the horizon; we were stunned when they arrived with a procession as long as ours. The combined length of the procession, including John Galt, was around 80 cars and we could never have imagined the full effect of the procession as a whole. At it's longest point the procession must have been in the region of half a mile long.

The response from the public was outstanding; car drivers who were held up at junctions were waving and tooting their horns; the staff from shops in High Street were out in force, clapping and cheering; there was even some shock on the faces of some of those we passed, probably at the sheer scale of what we, the 3 schools together, had created. In addition to this, the press photographers were out in force with their cameras, so we should be popping into a newspaper near you soon :D

NAC cannot ignore the strong feelings for our schools and communities, and the public support, that was on show at the demonstration; to do so would be to ignore our schools and communities altogether!!!

A huge thank you is given to all who helped with preparations, and most importantly, to those who turned out on the day...THANK YOU!!

Say NO! to closure!
Dates for Your Diary !!!