£7.5m refit work for schools

Holy Cross will get new fire safety measures

A total of 60 schools will receive repairs during the holidays, with everything from rewiring and fire safety to masonry and flooring repairs being targeted.

A total of 6m will be spent on schools across the estate, with a further 1.5m earmarked for "essential maintenance" on the schools waiting to be replaced or refurbished under the city's wave three rebuilding programme.

The general works include refurbishing the ageing toilets at Clermiston and Flora Stevenson primaries, on which the Evening News has previously reported.

Fire safety upgrades are to be carried out at Holy Cross Primary in Trinity, where teachers were instructed to sound an air horn if they smelled smoke or spotted a fire in their classrooms to alert the rest of the school to the danger. The Evening News revealed last month that the bizarre choice of alert was brought in after health and safety inspectors visited the school and discovered there were no "break glass" points to sound an alarm beside the designated fire escapes.

Another school to benefit from the investment is Murrayburn Primary, where money will be spent on its playground, fencing and security.

The Sighthill school's concrete playground has previously been described by parents as "dull" and unsafe for children playing as there is no grass and its only piece of play equipment was last month condemned after it was found to be rotten throughout.

St John Vianney Primary in the Inch will also see repairs and upgrades carried out to its playground area this summer.

Last May, vandals destroyed 10,000 worth of playground equipment which was bought after years of fundraising by parents.

The school is a frequent target for vandals and has been left with vandalism repair bill of more than 36,000 in the past five years.City education leader Councillor Marilyne MacLaren said: "I'm delighted to announce that this major programme of works will start during the holidays.

"We've opened new schools, unveiled extensions and installed modern sports facilities but these works are just as important.

"Windows, boilers and roof repairs might not sound as exciting but getting these basics right is vital for the learning environment within our schools.

"Pupils, teachers and communities rely on high-quality, well-maintained school buildings and we're committed to keeping standards high and investing heavily in our school estate."

Education chiefs will spend a total of 1m each on boilers and fire safety.

Rewiring work will cost 550,000, while 850,000 will be spent on roofing, 551,000 on fabric enhancements and 190,000 on insulation.

A total of 300,000 will be spent on playgrounds, fencing and security in schools, while flooring will cost 140,000, 660,000 will be spent on stonework and masonry, 210,000 on toilets, 155,000 on lifts and 368,000 on windows and doors.