Investing in new schools

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has led the opening of a hat-trick of new high school buildings as the total number of new or refurbished buildings exceeded 750 since 2007.

She opened the new Largs Academy – part of the Largs Campus - on the same day as Deputy First Minister John Swinney opened Dundee’s new Baldragon Academy, and Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville opened Edinburgh’s new Boroughmuir High School.

All three projects are supported by the Scottish Government’s School for the Future programme, with the new Largs Campus featuring new homes for Largs Early Learning Centre, Largs Primary, St Mary’s Primary as well as Largs Academy itself.

The Scottish Government’s Schools for the Future programme, which began in 2009, is investing more than £1 billion to deliver 117 new schools. 87 of those schools are now open – with the rest due to be completed by 2020.  When combined with the number of schools built and refurbished by local authority partners – over 750 schools will have been rebuilt or refurbished since 2007. 

The First Minister said:

“I am delighted to officially open the tremendous new Largs Campus buildings. It’s clear to see that the pupils and staff are all enjoying and benefiting from their new learning environment.

“This is just the latest of the long list of schools now rebuilt or refurbished, with a hat-trick of High Schools open today. That’s a reflection of the importance of education as this Government’s number one priority.

“What’s more, not only do these new schools provide enormous benefits for the education of our children and young people, they also help the local economy with jobs and apprenticeship opportunities during construction, and will serve the wider community now that they are open.”

Background:

• Largs Campus received £25.3 million of funding under Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme; Baldragon Academy received £19.5 million and Boroughmuir High School received £17.2 million.
• The proportion of schools being reported as in good or satisfactory condition has increased from 61% to 86% since 2007.
• The £1.8 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme involves £1.13 billion of Scottish Government funding with local authorities contributing £665 million.
• A new school project is being delivered in every local authority area in Scotland.
• Since 2007, 751 school building projects have been completed.