West Lothian school to reopen months ahead of schedule after closure due to RAAC
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St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn is set to open its new wing months ahead of schedule after a £50m rebuild.
More than 60% of the school - one of the largest in West Lothian- had to be demolished because of RAAC roofing panels.
While councillors welcomed the fact that school will be completed by March they voiced disappointment that the Scottish Government has yet to respond to pleas for £15m to help meet the costs.
READ MORE: Calls for delayed West Lothian train station to be funded by Scottish Government
The Executive heard that the council has budget a loan could face paying an extra £15m interest on that sum.
A report to the executive said: 'Discussions remain ongoing with the Scottish Government around funding support to deliver the works required at St Kentigern's Academy. To date, no funding support has been confirmed.'
Depute Chief Executive for Education Dr Elaine Cook told the meeting: 'For the first year in a number of years, we will be able to have all our SQA exams within the school site."
Councillor Sally Pattle, Lib Dem, said: 'I really wanted to say a massive thank you from the outset, on behalf of councillors. Officers have kept us fully informed. They grasped the nettle in dealing with this situation.'
"Fingers crossed we get some money from the Scottish Government."
Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford echoed Councillor Pattle's thanks to officers and added ' A big thanks go to staff and students who have borne this really admirably. It has been a lot of upheaval.'
Countering complaints that the Scottish Government had not responded to the council's plea for £15m costs Councillor Stafford said the council would be a better state if it had not had to pay £18m for PFI projects introduced by Labour.
Conservative group leader, Damian Doran-Timson described that as "defending the indefensible" and criticised millions of pounds ' wasted by the Scottish Government'.
He added: 'The issue here is the Scottish Government not supporting the council. Shame on the Scottish Government for not stepping in.'
Labour councillor Tom Conn said: 'I'd like to thank officers for dealing with RAAC throughout all our schools estate. Not one penny has come from the Scottish Government to support this council. There's been criticism of the PFI which we are still paying off but this is what we are going to have to do if we don't get this support- paying off on the never never.'
A Scottish Government spokesperson defended its record on funding schools, pointing to almost £24m of funding through the Schools for the Future Programme, spent on building or extending schools in the county and also financial support given through the Learning Estate Investment Programme.
The spokesperson added: 'The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with each local authority where RAAC has been identified in schools.
'The Education Secretary met with West Lothian Council and visited St Kentigern's Academy, and was reassured on progress made by the council in dealing with RAAC identified in the school.
'National guidance has been available from the Institute of Structural Engineers to local authorities since March 2022. That guidance remains good practice for councils to adhere to and uses a risk-based approach to manage RAAC.'
After the meeting Andrew McGuire the executive councillor for Education said: 'It's great to hear how much progress has been made in re-building a significant part of St. Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn.
'St Kentigern's is a large secondary school that provides education to many young people from towns and villages in the west of West Lothian.
'We can now look forward to the new building at St Kentigern's being opened in 2026, which will deliver huge benefits for pupils and staff.
'Thanks to everyone at the school and those involved in the project for their hard work to ensure a major construction project can be delivered quickly with minimal impact on education.'
The new building will feature a reception area, spacious canteen and dining area, a four-court Games Hall, Dance Studio, Fitness Suite and a changing area. Additional facilities will include a performance area, a range of learning spaces, a café and nurture rooms, all designed to enhance the learning environment for all of the young people who attend the school.
The work has been completed while the school is operational, with every effort made to keep disruption to a minimum for a project of this scale. A temporary "Learning Village" has been put in place to support learning, with some PE lessons and SQA exams the only activities that required additional space off-site.
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