PUPILS about to make the switch to high school have been told that they will still be getting taught in their old primary schools.

In a highly unusual move, many of the new S1s at Preston Lodge High School will only get some of their lessons at the Prestonpans secondary school after the holidays.

And despite being new high school pupils, most will remain in their current P7 classes and not, as is normal, be mixed with children from other feeder primary schools.

In an email today to the parents and carers of local P7 pupils outlining the changes, Preston Lodge High School headteacher Gavin Clark admitted the situation was "far from ideal" but was necessary due to the recent partial closure of the Prestonpans high school.

READ MORE: PL closure disruption to continue into the new school year

Twenty three classrooms have been closed in the school after survey work discovered faults with the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) used in the school's construction.

Mr Clark said in the message: "We are really looking forward to P7 students joining our school community, and have been carefully considering how best to accommodate six year groups into our timetable, with a number of classrooms still out of action in August.

"We have worked closely with council colleagues to consider all options, and today we have finalised an approach which I share with you now.

"Although there are no perfect solutions, we are confident that the best way to ensure a smooth transition to Preston Lodge for our new S1s is for a temporary arrangement to be put in place from August until further notice."

This will see:

  • Most new S1 students remaining in their current P7 classes, but following PL school timings, and being taught by PL teachers in ‘home rooms’ for some of their learning. PL teachers will lead students in project-based learning, and literacy and numeracy work in their home rooms, for a portion of each week.
  • Home rooms for students coming from Cockenzie, Longniddry and St Gabriel’s Primary Schools will be located within the primary school they currently attend.
  • Home rooms for most students coming from Preston Tower Primary School will be located within the Pennypit Centre, Prestonpans due to limited space in the school building. Some students will be based in a 'home room' located at Preston Tower – the school will be in touch with parents/carers of these students to confirm arrangements. Classes at the Pennypit Centre will be organised in their primary school houses.
  • Practical learning will still take place at PL – this includes lessons such as Craft, Design and Technology, Home Economics, ICT, Music and Science. Travel between 'home rooms' and Preston Lodge will be "carefully managed"
  • Students joining our Enhanced Learning Provision will be fully accommodated at Preston Lodge, and students with Additional Support Needs will receive agreed supports both in home rooms and in practical lessons at Preston Lodge.
  • Physical Education lessons will take place either at a class’s home room location, or at Meadowmill Sports Centre.

Mr Clark added: "We recognise that this is far from ideal. But the reality is that we are dealing with an unprecedented and extremely complex situation.

"Our priorities are to minimise disruption, limit the time period for these arrangements as far as possible and maintain high-quality learning for everyone.

"I am confident that this approach will work well, because it will still provide new S1s with a meaningful secondary experience."

He did, however, "appreciate" that this would be "surprising news"for P7 students and families and that there was still "much detail" to be finalised.

"I will write to you again on Wednesday, with further information about these temporary arrangements, answering any questions you may have," he added.

"It would be really helpful if those questions were passed on to us through the Google Form here so that we gain a full understanding of the details students and families would like to know more about. We will keep this form open for the foreseeable future, should any further questions arise.

"Our school community has overcome many challenges very successfully in recent years, and we look forward to working with new S1 students and families to not only overcome this particular challenge, but to making it a positive learning experience for all involved."

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One parent contacted the Courier to share her concerns with the plans, fearing that their child would not get a true high school experience.

She said: "My child is desperate to mix with new and different people. He has spent a wonderful eight years learning with his peers, but the time has come for him to make new relationships.

"He will be incredibly upset by this news. A huge part of S1 involves this social change. I am concerned about how this will effect his mental health."

The parent also raised concerns over 'lost' learning time caused by pupils' travel between sites.