Community campus tour provides councillors with look into possibilities for new Peterhead facility
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Councillors have seen what the completed Peterhead Community Campus could be like when they visited the similar new facility in Inverurie.
Members of the Buchan area committee and education and children’s services committee were given a tour of the building to better understand the link between onsite services because the arrangements for special school provision at Peterhead is alike to that in Inverurie.
Councillors visited St Andrews School to see for themselves the multiple sensory rooms, the sensory garden, a warm water pool, a therapy pool and a dedicated rebound therapy space. They got a sense of how similar facilities might be incorporated into Anna Ritchie School.
They also viewed the sport and leisure facilities which benefit not only pupils at Inverurie Academy and St Andrews School but the wider community too.
The visit was arranged following the outcome of a discussion about Anna Ritchie School during the August meeting of the education and children’s services committee.
Chairwoman councillor Gillian Owen said: “It was inspirational to see how St Andrews School fitted into the Inverurie Community Campus setting.
"There is a real community spirit with pupils at both schools working well together in using the collective space in this fantastic modern community campus.
“As a council we are looking to deliver the best possible learning experience. We are particularly keen to develop state-of-the-art schools for children attending our special schools.
"I am in no doubt that parents and carers in Peterhead should look forward with excitement as plans for the new community campus continue to progress.”
Councillor Norman Smith, Buchan area committee chairman, said: “The visit was hugely informative and gave a real insight as to what we might see in Peterhead once the community campus is completed.
"The new facility is just one of many examples of how the council is working to transform Peterhead for the better.”
In August, members of the education and children’s services committee approved plans to close Dales Park and Meethill Schools so that they can be merged into a primary school at the new community campus site at Kinmundy.
The plans will also see Peterhead Academy and Anna Ritchie School located in the modern facility. There are also proposals for state-of-the-art leisure and entertainment facilities to be built in the town centre.
Members of both committees will visit Inverurie Community Campus again. Staff and parents and carers from Peterhead will also tour the facilities.
