A COUNCILLOR is calling for greater flexibility to ensure pupils halfway through their education at Musselburgh Grammar School can remain there rather than move to the town’s proposed new second high school.

East Lothian Council recently announced that the new £35 million school earmarked for near Wallyford would not open until August 2022 – two years later than initially hoped.

It will cater for pupils from Wallyford and Pinkie St Peter’s Primary Schools in light of the influx of new houses planned for the Musselburgh area.

The council made a commitment to provide parents and the public with one year’s notice of the new school’s opening date to assist them with preparing for the transition.

But Musselburgh councillor Stuart Currie said some parents were unhappy that, under the transitioning arrangements, children due to be starting S3 when the new school opened would not be able to see out their education at Musselburgh Grammar.

He told a meeting of Musselburgh and and Inveresk Community Council: “Given the circumstances, you’d think there would be some better transitional arrangement.

“If you are in S2 going into S3 it is a pretty tough time and there are big decisions to make.

“It’s not the fact that they are saying you are going to another school or building, it’s your pals, support networks and clubs, and things you are involved with at your existing school. I have asked them to try and be a bit more flexible.”

Irene Tait, community council chairwoman, described the new estimated opening date as “disappointing”.

Mr Currie said that there was £500,000 in the council’s capital budget for improvements to Musselburgh Grammar School.

He said it was asked at a meeting between the local authority and the parent council whether this investment could be brought forward. The council has now told the Courier that this will happen.

“Pupils, for instance, can’t use the dining hall at certain times for social space or revision because pupils are having lunch,” added Mr Currie.

By 2021, he said that the the Grammar School would be “jammed to the gunwales”.

Fiona Robertson, head of education at East Lothian Council, said in a statement: “We are looking forward to delivering the additional secondary school. This will be a fantastic addition to the community, ensuring we continue providing a quality learning experience for all our young people in the area.

“The council’s position has always been that the additional school would be established from 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter. It is the building of new homes – both in existing developments and those yet to be developed – which will determine this.

“We carefully assess projected school rolls and it is currently envisaged that the school will open in 2022.”

This had no impact on the detailed transition arrangements put in place for the pupils who will transfer to the new school, she added.

“ Our priority is to enable the smoothest possible transition,” said Ms Robertson.

“These arrangements were set out in the proposal to build the new school as previously approved by the council. We have allocated resources of £500,000 towards improvements at the existing Musselburgh Grammar School.

“We have agreed to bring this forward and we will provide further information – and consult with the school on the scope of the improvements – in due course.”

The transition arrangements which were agreed by the council last December were: * Pupils living within the catchment areas of Wallyford Primary and Pinkie St Peter’s Primary transitioning into S2 and S3 will move to the new additional secondary school at August 2020 or as soon as thereafter.

* Pupils living within the catchment areas of Wallyford Primary School and Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School transitioning from P7 into S1 will attend the new additional secondary school at August 2020 or as soon as thereafter.

*Pupils attending Musselburgh Grammar School living in the Pinkie St Peter’s Primary and Wallyford Primary catchment areas and transitioning into S4, S5 and S6 at August 2020 or as soon as thereafter would remain at Musselburgh Grammar School for the remainder of their senior phase education.

*Younger siblings of S4-S6 pupils living in the Pinkie St Peter’s Primary and Wallyford Primary catchment areas and attending Musselburgh Grammar School at August 2020 or as soon as thereafter would have the option to attend Musselburgh Grammar School if they wish.