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Labour led
Executive reaches its target of refurbishing 200 schools by the end of 2006.
The largest school building programme in this
country’s history is one of the real
achievements of devolution.
Local Labour MSP Allan
Wilson, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Life Long Learning, has paid a
visit to Mayfield Primary School in Saltcoats to mark the achievement by the
Scottish Executive in reaching it’s target of refurbishing 200 schools by
the end of 2006 as part of the largest ever school building programme in
this country.
Mayfield was built in 2004 and replaced a 30 year old primary school. The
school has an open plan layout which incorporates a gym hall, dining area
and multi purpose rooms which are used by the local community.
Allan Wilson MSP was given a guided tour of the school by head teacher
Lilian Denny.
Speaking about the visit to Mayfield and of the Labour led Executive
reaching its target of refurbishing 200 schools, Cunninghame North MSP Allan
Wilson said:
First Minister Jack McConnell added:
“I taught in various schools throughout the 80’s and I remember the effect
that poor facilities had on the motivation of pupils and teachers. It was
difficult to inspire and be inspiring about teaching and learning when all
around you were the signs of decay and the lack of investment”
“But it is changed days now and our ambition is for every school to be an
excellent school with excellent facilities. A modern environment helps our
teachers to teach and our pupils to learn”
“The largest school building programme in this country’s history is one of
the real achievements of devolution and our government remains absolutely
committed to it”
“We will not stop here and another 100 schools will be built or refurbished
over the next two years”
“We are overturning a legacy of decades of neglect, replacing sub-standard
schools, repairing dilapidated buildings and renovating miserable
classrooms”
Education Minister Hugh Henry said:
“Since devolution, alongside this huge programme of school building, we have
been strengthening the foundations of Scottish education. Scotland is in the
top third in the OECD countries, with our 15 year olds among the best
performing in the world. Attainment is improving, with most pupils working
at or above the literacy and numeracy levels expected at their age. Over
half of our school leavers enter further or higher education”
“In addition, we are well on our way to meeting current class size reduction
targets, with more teachers being employed at a time of falling school
rolls. And we have provided a free nursery place for every three and four
year old child”
“We are determined to make Scottish education the best in the world”
COSLA President Pat Watters said:
“We recognise the Executive’s commitment to reinvest in the school estate.
Education has always been a major priority for Scotland’s councils.”
“The money councils are committing is the largest investment in Scottish
education since its inception and has been achieved through local
authorities’ partnership with the Executive. Councils are committed to
taking this forward for a number of years to maintain the position of the
Scottish education system as one of the best Regarded worldwide”
NOTES:
The School Estate Strategy, Building our Future: Scotland’s School Estate,
is a joint Executive/COSLA policy launched in February 2003 that set bout
the vision and objectives to achieve a well built, well designed and well
managed school estate over the long term.
Since 1997 there has been huge capital investment of over £4 billion in the
school estate.
Forty PPP projects in all parts of Scotland represent a significant part of
this investment, with a capital value of over £2.8 billion.
The Schools Fund, the Executive’s annual capital grant to authorities for
investment in school buildings, stands this year at over £150 million – a
five fold increase over five years.
In addition, local authorities currently spend around £125 million annually
on schools from their capital programmes.
The Partnership Agreement commitment was to ‘develop the largest ever school
building programme in Scotland’s history, renewing 200 more schools by 2006,
rising to 300 by 2009’.
The 200 schools are a mix of new projects and refurbishments covering
everything from full-scale replacement to significant new extensions.
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