Parents and members of the public have expressed their rage on social media after a consultation event for a new Peterhead community campus revealed the “disgusting” state of the current school.
This week’s public event at Peterhead Academy was designed to show the public the proposed time-line for the new and oft-delayed Peterhead Community Campus.
But the event backfired spectacularly after parents and visitors were left appalled at the state of the existing facilities.
Pictures of damp ceilings, rot, peeling and cracked walls, doors and windows which do not move were soon flooding onto Facebook – all taken by those who attended.
For many, the signs of deterioration at the school – which will remain in use for some time – only compounded concerns they already had about its structure.
One former pupil said some students had become used to keeping jackets on in the classroom due to draughts and faulty heating.
Amidst the dismay at what they saw, the event revealed the new campus would be constructed between 2023 and 2025, becoming operational between 2025 and 2028.
That means it could be as long as nine years before pupils are given a new learning environment.
In the wake of the meeting, Peterhead resident John Buchan published an array of images highlighting the school’s condition on his social media page.
He wrote: “First time in the academy for quite some time tonight for a meeting about the proposed new academy and campus.
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“I was shocked to see how bad of a state the school is in.
“Peterhead councillors should hang their heads in shame that kids are learning in an environment like this.
“Damp, rot, falling in roof – absolutely sickening to see, while our councillors have a cosy new building and even our prisoners have the best of facilities.
“It hasn’t changed in the 26 year since I left. Disgusting that kids are in there. It needs condemned.”
The post was shared over 320 times and garnered almost 200 comments.
Many highlight the staffing issues the academy has faced in recent years, with Mr Buchan adding: “If I was a teacher I’d never apply for that dump.”
Lizzie Reid commented: “This gives me anxiety.
“My daughter is starting at the school in August and the fact that the prison is more up-to-date and safer scares me.
“Why are our children the last priority? Education and school welfare should be number one priority.”
Former pupil Jonathon Cowie, meanwhile, wrote: “I remember just two years ago when I was still at school, in the winter you would have to make sure you had a jacket for going to certain subjects such as maths and English as the heating didn’t work in certain parts of the school – absolute joke.”
Pressure has been on to replace the school with a new multi-million pound community facility for years, but there have been numerous false starts.
Council officers will hold another consultation at the end of this month.
Beverley Noble added: “It’s absolutely disgusting. The quicker a new one is up the better.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “While we acknowledge parents’ concerns about the current Peterhead Academy, the council is committed to ensuring the school is fit for purpose.
“We have spent £840,000 on improvements in the last financial year and intend to spend a further £225,000 this financial year on enhancing the school building.
“This has seen repairs to the roof, drainage works as well as new sensory rooms and a kitchen area for cookery classes.
“We have recently completed improvements to the surface water drainage and by the end of the month will have finished a major upgrade to the roof.
“Once this is complete arrangements are in place to replace internal ceiling areas and upgrade internal lighting.
“This will address the water staining of ceiling tiles and floor coverings.
“The heating system is under constant review and repairs are being identified and actioned.
“Looking ahead, we are committed to building a state-of-the-art community campus in Peterhead and we very much welcome the public’s ideas on how the £71 million should be best spent at the next engagement event between 4pm and 8pm on Wednesday March 6 at Peterhead Academy.”