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The Herald Scotland
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Mull school campaigners a step closer to court date
A petition for a Judicial Review was lodged with the Court of Session in Edinburgh in June, and was followed by a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised more than £50,000 in just one week. The campaigners have now confirmed that their application has been accepted by the court, which they say 'essentially means that the judge agrees there is a case to answer, and that it has real prospects of success". Argyll and Bute Council now has 14 days to respond to the petition. If it decides to contest the action, a formal hearing is expected in October. A spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group Ltd (MCWG), which is pursuing the legal case, said that "democracy is severely lacking" in Argyll and Bute Council but that their community is "more united than ever". The group had previously said that the council's decision-making around the new school had been 'shoddy and biased', which they say left them with 'no option' but to take the matter to court. They argue that the council has behaved irrationally, unfairly, and outwith the bounds of its own regulations, and that the decision to base the new school in Tobermory should therefore be reversed. The campaigners say that they were 'warned not to challenge' the council's decision to locate the new school in Tobermory, and that delays to the programme could 'jeopardise Scottish Government funding,' which they described as being told to accept the plans as they are or risk getting 'nothing at all'. Read more: Speaking recently to the Press and Journal, local councillor and administration member Andrew Kain, who had previously been highly critical of those pushing for a central high school, has suggested that islanders were misled by the council. He said that despite residents being told that the location of the new school was a matter for consultation, and the council running a 'call for sites' and a formal review of several options, the project was only ever intended to be 'a replacement for Tobermory High School'. The move to build a new school was originally referred to as the 'Mull Campus Project', but recent communication from council officials has stated that 'the Tobermory Campus project is focussed on creating an improved and enhanced learning environment for the pupils within the current Tobermory High School catchment area". Although the new school building is being delivered by Argyll and Bute Council, the authority plans to use a Scottish Government funding scheme known as the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). Education secretary Jenny Gilruth has already confirmed that delays to the project will not jeopardise financial support, and the government has also found and allocated additional funding to ensure that a new Gaelic primary school in Glasgow, which is also LEIP-funded, can be completed. The council is currently facing another active judicial review over its handling of plans for a supermarket on Helensburgh waterfront. During a hearing at the beginning of July, lawyers representing Argyll and Bute Council argued that local people had no right to challenge the decision, regardless of how it was made. Speaking exclusively to The Herald, a spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group Ltd said: 'We are all delighted that our petition has been granted the hearing it deserves. It has taken a huge effort from a team of volunteers to get us to this point and an incredible response from the community to support that work in the form of donations to fund this case. On the other hand we are disappointed that all of this hard work from the Mull community could have been avoided if Argyll and Bute council had chosen to work with us in the open and transparent way that was promised from the new administration. It is also shocking to us all that the council says they have no money to fund community solutions, yet find a bottomless pit to fund their legal defence in this, now their second judicial review. 'The themes of a lack of consultation and meaningful impact assessments conducted by those most closely affected, seem to be endemic across multiple projects and increasingly communities are not feeling represented or heard. The conclusion is that democracy is severely lacking at Kilmory in the eyes of the electorate. 'We hold out hope that a period of introspection by the administration at Kilmory and a commitment to work with us, will mean this legal action does not have to run its course. No one is enjoying having to work this way with our elected and non-elected officials and the stress caused and sacrifices made from countless hours of unpaid work has taken its toll on us all. The core team of volunteers are from all over the island from the north to the south, many will not be directly affected by the decisions being taken, but all of us feel that getting it right for every child and indeed our entire island is too important and this is a decision which will have ramifications for generations to come. 'The council now have two weeks to make their responses in defence of the grounds laid out. It's also worth noting that we have not delayed the project in any way by these actions, the campus team are progressing with spending taxpayers' money on their advanced business case no matter what objections are raised by us or councillor colleagues at Kilmory. The team are also planning statutory consultation to begin after the school holidays, which rather begs the question, why did they not have statutory consultation when applying for LEIP funding or during the process of deciding where this school should be built? 'Rather than the division that A&B expected the community seems more united than ever in their grit and support to do things better for the next generations of children on Mull. We are continually humbled by the response to our actions as a working group and the support that backs us at every stage.' The Herald approached Argyll and Bute Council and asked if it intended to contest the legal action from the Mull Campus Working Group. The council was also asked to respond to Councillor Kain's comments that those on the island were misled. A spokesperson responded to state that the council will not be commenting while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Daily Record
26-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
St Sophia's Primary bury time capsule as school nears completion
St Sophia's Primary will be the first EnerPHit certified school in the UK. A special time capsule ceremony was performed at St Sophia's Primary where children and young people from all age groups within the school and Early Childhood Centre, led the celebrations. The time capsule, which was provided by main contractor Flemings, was filled with lots of special memories and interesting facts, including a poster with the names of all the children and young people attending the school, photographs and information about Father Onoyima, and the Nigerian missionaries who are working with the school community. St Sophia's is being refurbished to the EnerPHit building standard and will be the first EnerPHit certified school in the UK. It is due to be completed and handed over to the council this week. The final fitting out work will then take place over the summer with the children and young people returning in August. Councillor Elaine Cowan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People joined the children and young people and Depute Head Teacher Paul MacConnell at the site. They were accompanied by Councillor Jim McMahon and Councillor Barry Douglas, local elected members Councillor Kevin McMGregor and Councillor Sally Cogley. Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer and Head of Education, Fr Gabriel Onoyima, former Head Teacher Mrs Lizzie Heron, main contractor Flemings, and the design and delivery team from Property and Facility Management, who are managing the project, were also in attendance. Councillor Cowan said: "It was great to join the children and young people from St Sophia's for a time capsule ceremony. They were so excited to be on site and see their school almost complete, their enthusiasm was wonderful. "This project is incredibly innovative and is a first in the UK but first and foremost, it is an investment in the children and young people of the Irvine Valley. "As a Council we are committed to ensuring that all our children and young people have the best possible start in life and have the opportunity to learn in an environment that matches the hopes and aspirations of the school community." EnerPHit refurbishment transforms the energy efficiency of an existing building, working within the existing footprint and structure. Undertaking a deep retro-fit to an EnerPHit standard also provides the opportunity to rationalise and improve the layout of the existing building to ensure this is fit for modern learning environments. The project, which has a total capital budget of £5.8m, is being delivered as part of the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme – Phase 2, and is receiving total grant funding support of approximately £4.300m over a 25 year period.
Glasgow Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Construction begins on Chryston High School expansion
Construction has officially begun on a major extension at Chryston High School in North Lanarkshire, following a turf-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 18. Chryston High School serves the Northern Corridor, including pupils from Auchinloch, Chryston, Gartcosh, Moodiesburn, and Stepps primary schools. (Image: Supplied) Read more: Council rejects plans for huge 1000-home development with pub and park The extension is set to provide new classrooms, sports facilities, outdoor learning areas, and an early years centre. Councillor Michael McBride, convener of education, children and families, said: "This is a significant investment in our young people and the wider community. "The expanded school will meet the needs of a growing population and offer excellent new facilities for pupils and residents. "We're committed to creating top-quality spaces for our communities now and in the future." The expansion is part of the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme and is designed to support population growth driven by new housing developments in the area. The project will also create new indoor and outdoor sports facilities for community use. (Image: Supplied) Jenny Gilruth, cabinet secretary for education and skills, said: "It was a pleasure to join pupils, staff and contractors to mark the start of work on the new Chryston High School expansion. "It will add to the high-quality learning spaces available for pupils, teachers, and staff, and provide important facilities for the wider community. "Through the £2 billion learning estate investment programme, the Scottish Government is driving improvements in schools across Scotland, with the number of schools in good or satisfactory condition increasing from 62.7 per cent in 2007 to 91.7 per cent in 2024." Snowdrop Nursery will also relocate to the new campus, with the hope of strengthening ties between early years and secondary education. Read more: Free coffee morning to be held at Glasgow church as part of barista training program (Image: Supplied) BAM Construction is leading the construction in partnership with Hub South West. The design team includes BDP Architects, Blyth & Blyth, and Hulley & Kirkwood. Jim Ward, regional director at BAM Construction, said: "This project is the result of a strong partnership between Hub South West and North Lanarkshire Council. "We're proud to be building a modern, inclusive learning space that will help young people thrive." Gregg Orrock, headteacher of Chryston High School, said: "This is an exciting time for our school and community. "The new extension will bring great new learning and social spaces. "We're also looking forward to working with BAM on a Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction Skills, giving our pupils real insight into careers in the industry."
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scots education secretary attends turf-cutting ceremony marking start of work on Chryston High School extension
Jenny Gilruth was on hand to hear how the project will increase the school's capacity by 500 pupils to meet the needs of new housing developments in the area. Scotland's education secretary hailed the impending "important facilities" as she attended a turf-cutting ceremony marking the start of building work on the extension of Chryston High School. Jenny Gilruth was on hand to hear how the project will increase the school's capacity by 500 pupils to meet the needs of new housing developments in the area. It will include new classrooms, outdoor learning spaces, sports facilities, and an early years centre. Councillor Michael McBride, convener of education, children and families, cut the first turf on the new site. He said: "This is a significant investment in our young people and the wider community. "The expanded school will meet the needs of a growing population and offer excellent new facilities for pupils and residents. "We're committed to creating top-quality spaces for our communities now and in the future." The Scottish Government is funding the project through its Learning Estate Investment Programme. The development will include new indoor and outdoor community sports facilities that will be available for public use. Ms Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said: "It was a pleasure to join pupils, staff and contractors to mark the start of work on the new Chryston High School expansion. "It will add to the high quality learning spaces available for pupils, teachers and staff, and provide important facilities for the wider community. "Through the £2 billion learning estate investment programme, the Scottish Government is driving improvements in schools across Scotland, with the number of schools in good or satisfactory condition increasing from 62.7 per cent in 2007 to 91.7 per cent in 2024." Snowdrop Nursery will also move into the new campus, helping to build stronger links between the nursery and the school. Gregg Orrock, head teacher of Chryston High School, added: "This is an exciting time for our school and community. "The new extension will bring great new learning and social spaces. "We're also looking forward to working with BAM on a Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction Skills, giving our pupils real insight into careers in the industry." The construction is being led by BAM Construction, working with Hub South West, and the design team includes BDP Architects, Blyth & Blyth (civil and structural engineers) and Hulley & Kirkwood (mechanical and electrical engineers). Chryston High School serves the Northern Corridor, with pupils coming from Auchinloch, Chryston, Gartcosh, Moodiesburn and Stepps primary schools. The turf-cutting event was attended by local councillors, Scottish Government representatives, Gregg Orrock and pupils. Jim Ward, regional director at BAM Construction, said: "This project is the result of a strong partnership between Hub South West and North Lanarkshire Council. "We're proud to be building a modern, inclusive learning space that will help young people thrive." Shaun Sands, programme director at Hub South West, added: "This extension will improve the already excellent facilities at Chryston High. "It's a great example of working together to meet local needs with smart, sustainable solutions." *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. Article continues below
Edinburgh Reporter
04-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
St Kentigern's Academy set to open new wing months ahead of schedule
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. 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. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
