14-year-wait to build new city schools

REBUILDING or replacing five crumbling city schools could take up to 14 years, it emerged today.

The city council has revealed its business case for all of the "wave three" schools, which it will present to the Scottish Government in a bid to secure cash to fund the projects. But it warns that if Holyrood does not help the children and families department finance the modernisation programme, it could be 2022 before the schools finally get replaced or rebuilt.

In addition, education chiefs warned today that if the council has to fund wave three on its own, it would have a "huge impact" on other building and maintenance projects across the city.

The total cost of modernising the five schools – Boroughmuir, James Gillespie's and Portobello High Schools, St Crispin's Special School and St John's Primary School – is between £139.5 million and £147.7m, depending on which options are chosen for Boroughmuir and St John's.

The costs are based on a seven-year timescale. The council admits however that completing the schools within this period would require "significant levels of additional funding from the Scottish Government".

Its alternative option is to secure the money itself through mix of funding sources including borrowing, which would significantly delay the refurbishment programme. It would mean work to replace or refurbish the five schools would have to be done in phases.

Council bosses are now going to start consultations on Boroughmuir and St John's schools, prepare designs for a new Portobello High and explore site options for St Crispin's in a bid to "avoid further delays" when money is eventually secured.

Education leader Councillor Marilyne MacLaren said today: "We are committed to replacing all five schools and the challenge we now face is how we find the funding to speed up this process.

"With the resources we currently have available, our only option is to phase the replacement of the schools.

"It is our intention to continue to look at all alternative funding mechanisms.

"We recognise that there is no additional funding available in the current financial settlement but by progressing the project we will be in a better position to move on to the next stage should additional sources of funding become available."

HIGHS AT A LOW EBB SAYS REPORT

• Boroughmuir High School
The council says Boroughmuir High School faces the most challenging "fitness for purpose" issues in the city because of room size and configuration issues.

• James Gillespie's High School
The report says James Gillespie's faces "serious challenges" regarding the fabric and condition of its buildings.

• Portobello High School
The council admits the building is now at the end of its lifespan.

• St John's Primary School
St John's Primary School has among the smallest classroom sizes in the city, a lack of outdoor education spaces, and very poor toilet facilities.

• St Crispin's Special School
The current accommodation, which was adapted in the 1970s for the school's use at the time, is no longer "fit for purpose".