Latest news with #PerthHighSchool
STV News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Council awaiting guidance on whether to reassign mixed-sex facilities in schools
Perth and Kinross Council is still awaiting Scottish Government guidance as to whether it needs to reassign mixed-sex facilities in schools. The new £80m Perth High School – due to open next week – is one of nine PKC schools built with mixed-sex spaces and one of three which does not have separate male and female toilets. In April 2025, a Court of Session judge ruled Scottish state schools must provide single-sex toilets for pupils but the Scottish Government is still considering whether its guidance needs to be updated. The Court of Session judgement in April was made in a case brought against Scottish Borders Council by parents concerned about a new primary school built with only gender-neutral toilets. The Court of Session judge ruled mixed-sex schools must provide single-sex toilets for pupils, but could have gender neutral toilets as well. The Scottish ruling came after the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. And – with Perth and Kinross pupils due to return to school next week for the new session – the Scottish Government is still deciding whether or not its guidance needs to be updated to reflect recent legal decisions. A PKC spokesperson said: 'As previously advised, the council has nine schools with mixed-sex facilities. Six of these also have separate male and female toilets while the remaining three have been designed with floor to ceiling cubicles in semi-open plan areas that allows schools to reassign their toilets. This arrangement is also in place at the new Perth High School. 'We await further guidance from the Scottish Government following the Supreme Court judgement and will respond to this guidance once provided.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Local authorities have statutory responsibility for the school estate, including provision of toilets. 'As with any significant legal or policy developments, we consider whether guidance requires to be updated to reflect recent legal decisions and this consideration is under way.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Excitement as £80 million new Perth High School building opens to pupils this month
Work is now under way moving equipment and resources into the new building ahead of pupils returning to school Perth High School headteacher Martin Shaw is excited to welcome staff and pupils into the new building later this month. The new £80 million Perth High School is complete and will open to pupils on August 21. Mr Shaw sees it as a "proud moment" and a chance to "raise the bar". Work is now under way to transfer school resources and equipment into the new building. Perth High School staff will start the 2025/26 session with an in-service day on Monday, August 18 followed by two exceptional closure days to allow teachers to unpack and set up their classrooms. Perth High School pupils will enter their new school on Thursday, August 21 - with all other Perth and Kinross Council schools opening to pupils for the new term on Tuesday, August 19. The new Perth High School has been built on the school's existing Oakbank Road site. The previous building - built in 1971 - was rated "C" or "poor" for suitability. The secondary is Perth and Kinross Council's largest school. The new building will accommodate up to 1,600 pupils and 140 staff over three storeys. Like Perth's Riverside Primary, it has been built by Robertson Construction Tayside to Passivhaus building design standards in order to save energy. Planning permission for the new Perth High was first granted back in March 2022. It was originally due to open in August 2024 but the opening was delayed by a year due to "challenges within the construction industry". In June 2022, PKC's head of business and resources Greg Boland told the Property Sub-committee, the build had been affected by "the implications of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and also currently the war in Ukraine which is causing a lot of issues regarding supply, tender prices and material prices". The cost soared from an initial budget of £50 million in 2021 to ultimately costing £80.2 million. Half of the capital cost is being met by the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme. Perth High School Headteacher, Martin Shaw said this week: "Moving into our new school building marks a bold new chapter for Perth High School. It is a chance to raise the bar, bringing our values of ambition, respect and equity to life in a space designed for excellence and equity. "With removals under way and preparations in full swing, we are focused on setting the tone for the year ahead, raising expectations in everything we do, from effort and attitude to how we carry ourselves each day. "This is a proud moment for our school and wider community and we are excited to welcome all our school staff and pupils to the new Perth High School in August." Vice-convener of PKC's Climate Change and Sustainability Committee and local Perth City South ward Lib Dem councillor Liz Barret said: "I'm delighted that Perth High School has been delivered on time, to provide modern 21 st century facilities for pupils and staff. "The building to Passivhaus standards - including solar panels - means that energy use will be reduced, helping us to address the climate emergency."
The Courier
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Perth influencer and TV star ties the knot ahead of big Mallorca wedding celebration
Perth influencer and TV star Kirsten Cameron and her fiance Adam Coakley have tied the knot in Glasgow. The pair got married at the weekend, with the Scottish Bafta winner sharing the news with all her followers on her Instagram page. The wedding comes 12 days before the couple hold celebrations to mark their wedding with friends and family in Majorca on May 29. Sharing the news Kirsten said: 'Honestly the best and most special day of my life, with all our family with us & the most amazing people to help me plan and get ready for the day, we honestly feel so lucky.' She has also shared details about the Majorca event, which will be held at Son Marroig in Deia. Guests will be welcomed with drinks in the courtyard between 5:30pm-6:30pm followed by a ceremony in the tower. The evening will continue with aperitifs, cocktails and canapes at the Almond Terrace at 7pm followed by dinner at 8.30pm then the cake cutting ceremony and speeches. The guests will head to a disco at midnight with the party due to finish between 2am and 3am. Kirsten grew up in the Fair City and attended Perth High School. She co-founded Scotland's largest influencer agency, Glasgow-based Aquarius Creative in 2020 with business partner Amy Moore. Last October Aquarius Creative was the focus of BBC Scotland's The Agency: Unfiltered – which returned for a third season. Since being launched in February 2023 the show has proved a hit, with the first two series' reaching a combined total of more than 1.2 million streams on BBC iPlayer. The show also won a Bafta Scotland 2024 award. Mum-of-one Kirsten has credited her upbringing in Perth as a reason for being where she is today.
STV News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Council waiting for guidance on schools built with only gender neutral toilets
Perth and Kinross Council is awaiting Scottish Government guidance on whether it will have to adapt three schools built with only gender neutral toilets. Last week a Court of Session judge ruled Scottish schools must provide single-sex toilets for pupils. The new £80 million Perth High School – due to open this summer – has also been built with floor-to-ceiling cubicles in semi-open plan areas, which PKC has said can be reassigned to separate toilets for males and females. The Court of Session judgment was made in a case brought against Scottish Borders Council by parents concerned about a new primary school built with only gender-neutral toilets. The decision came after the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. Following the UK Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers, the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued an interim update on its guidance. LDRS Perth High School under construction The update said: 'Schools must provide separate single-sex toilets for boys and girls over the age of eight. It is also compulsory for them to provide single-sex changing facilities for boys and girls over the age of 11. 'Pupils who identify as trans girls (biological boys) should not be permitted to use the girls' toilet or changing facilities, and pupils who identify as trans boys (biological girls) should not be permitted to use the boys' toilet or changing facilities. Suitable alternative provisions may be required. ' Perth and Kinross Council is now waiting to hear whether it will have to reassign toilets which have been designed as mixed-sex spaces. A council spokesperson said: 'Currently we have nine schools with mixed-sex facilities. Six of these also have separate male and female toilets while the remaining three have been designed with floor-to-ceiling cubicles in semi-open plan areas that will allow schools to reassign separate toilets for males and females. 'The same system is in place in schools currently under construction, such as the new Perth High School. 'We are considering the implications of the Supreme Court judgement and are awaiting further guidance from the Scottish Government which we will respond to.' Councillor Peter Barrett is the Equalities lead for Perth and Kinross Council. The Perth City Centre Liberal Democrat councillor said: 'I contacted senior officers following the Scottish Borders Council decision last week and have requested a briefing on the position in Perth and Kinross. We need to look at toilet provision in schools across Perth and Kinross, for both existing schools and new-builds and ensure compliance with the law and revised guidance on provision of single-sex and gender-neutral toilets.' As well as the Scottish Borders legal case, calls were made to ban unisex toilets in schools following an incident in Dundee. The calls came after a 15-year-old boy was charged in connection with voyeurism in December 2024. The Scottish Government is working to update its guidance following the recent legal decisions. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Local authorities have statutory responsibility for the school estate, including provision of toilets. The Education Secretary will engage with COSLA to carefully consider the implications of the Court of Session ruling involving Scottish Borders Council in relation to Earlston Primary. 'We previously announced our intention to consult on updating the 1967 School Premises Regulations, and considering relevant court decisions will be part of that process. 'We note the interim update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and that they intend to hold a consultation with stakeholders on their forthcoming guidance before producing their updated draft Code of Practice in early summer. We are keen to work with the EHRC to ensure consistent, inclusive and comprehensive guidance is in place following recent legal decisions.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Pictures: Gavin Russell Perth parkrun fundraiser draws massive turnout
More than 200 Perth High School students, staff and parents took part in Perth parkrun on Saturday. It's hoped the run will help raise thousands of pounds memory of former pupil Gavin Russell, who died from Ewing Sarcoma last year. Participants, including Gavin's cousins Abbie and Adam, joined the run to honour Gavin's memory and support cancer charities. Phil Hannah was there for The Courier to capture the event.
