The proposals, which will significantly enhance education provision in the area, have been given the green light by the council executive (Tuesday 25 June)
Winchburgh is one of West Lothian’s three core development areas which will see a significant number of new homes being built over the next ten years.
The council’s investment will deliver:
- A replacement Holy Family Primary School with an initial capacity of two hundred and thirty-one pupils to be open by August 2022
- A non-denominational secondary school with an initial capacity of six hundred and sixty planned to be open by August 2022
- A denominational secondary school with a capacity of six hundred and sixty planned to be open by August 2023
- Separate physical education and facilities management accommodation to be available from August 2022.
The Council Executive has now given go-ahead for formal submission of a New Project Request to Hub South East Territory Partnership for the delivery of the new education facilities who will lead on the building project on behalf of the council.
As with all new school projects where there are changes to school catchments a formal statutory education consultation is undertaken. The council has already commenced an initial pre-consultation exercise on the proposal to establish a new non-denominational secondary school at Winchburgh and to establish the catchment area of the school.
This will be followed by a statutory consultation and it is anticipated that the final report and decision on the catchment will be made early 2020. The council has also started the initial pre-consultation on the re-location of Holy Family Primary School with reporting of the outcomes for decision also in early 2020.
The council’s education executive will consider a report this September seeking approval to commence the public consultation on the establishment and catchment area of the denominational secondary in Winchburgh.
Council leader, Lawrence Fitzpatrick, said: “The council is committed to ensuring that we have sufficient education capacity for our area and we deliver modern and innovative schools to ensure that our children and communities are provided with the possible environment and opportunities for quality learning and life chances.
“The issuing of the new project request represents a key stage in the delivery of the projects and establishes the timelines, cost parameters and accommodation requirements at an early stage. This gives the project the best chance of being of high quality, delivered on time and on the budget to meet our objectives.”
Executive councillor for education, David Dodds, said: “We believe that this is one of the largest investments in education anywhere in Scotland and the largest single location investment made by the Council.
“West Lothian is one of the fastest-growing areas in Scotland and more and more people are choosing to make West Lothian their home and raise their families here. Last year, exam results reached their highest ever levels and we are investing heavily in our school property estate.”
