'New era for learning' as £30m learning campus officially opens
The opening ceremony to officially mark "the new era for learning in Neilston" saw musical recitals from pupils, a religious blessing and speeches from pupils from both schools.
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Speaking on Friday, Councillor Andrew Anderson said: 'Today's official opening ceremony was a wonderful way to mark this new chapter for learning in Neilston. This fantastic campus, combined with the staff, pupils, parents and wider community, will become the beating heart of the village and contribute to an environment where our children and young people will flourish.
"The completed campus offers our children and young people the very best learning environment and I'm delighted that sustainability is also at the core of the design, with the latest renewable energy technologies being used including air source heat pumps.
"A school community is about so much more than bricks and mortar and it's clear that the ethos and relationships which have already developed at Neilston Learning Campus since its opening will support all to achieve their very best.'
Head Teachers Gerard Curley and Marie Kane with Jenny Gilruth MSP and Councillor Andrew Anderson and children from Neilston Primary, St Thomas' Primary and Madras Family Centre outside the new Neilston Learning Campus (Image: Jeff Holmes)
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth added: 'I welcome the opening of this state-of-the-art campus – we now have a record number of pupils in Scotland being taught in schools that are in 'good' or 'satisfactory' condition. The Scottish Government is providing £10.6 million for the Neilston Learning Campus through the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme which by the end of 2027-28, will have delivered 47 modern, state of the art schools.'
Neilston Learning Campus was built to replace the out-dated former buildings and was designed to ensure both schools and the family centre retain their unique identities and teaching spaces, with shared facilities including a large sports hall, Digi-Zone, a dedicated space for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEAM), an art room, a green screen video editing area, and drama and music space.
Gerard Curley, Head Teacher of Neilston Primary and Madras Family Centre, said: 'It's an absolute privilege to lead our school and family centre every day. I am blessed to have such a wonderful community to work within and we work hard to ensure every member of our community is seen, heard and supported. This outstanding facility will give us a springboard to strive for even greater achievements in future years. I'm looking forward to the journey that's ahead of us.'
Marie Kane, Head Teacher of St Thomas' Primary, added: 'At the heart of all that we do in St Thomas' is our commitment to forming young people who embody our school values of love, faith and understanding. Since moving to our new home, the whole community has embraced the change and we are very appreciative of this remarkable facility and the high-quality learning experiences we are able to deliver. It's an exciting time for everyone connected with the school and we can't wait to start creating new memories for everyone at St Thomas'.'
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