EDINBURGH Council has agreed to spend £14m on schools in the next five years.
It has committed £7m for building St. John’s primary and £6.38m towards a new St.Crispin’s special school, the final remaining properties in the Wave 3 school replacement programme.
In addition, £618,000 is being set aside to kick off work on a secondary school in the Craigmillar area based on an opening date of August 2020 when it is anticipated it will be required.
Education convener Councillor Paul Godzik said: “We will undertake a consultation exercise later this year regarding site options for a new St. John’s and we envisage the new St.Crispin’s will be built and open for pupils by August 2018.
“Importantly, the investment of £618,000 shows we are reaffirming our commitment to delivering a new secondary school in Craigmillar. This funding will go to early stage design costs to ensure that the school will be ready by 2020 when we believe the new school will be needed.”
Funding for a new Portobello High School has been secured for more than four years but “unforeseeable delays” have prevented the school being built.
A recent consultation asked the public whether it would support plans to take a private bill to the Scottish Parliament seeking permission to change the use of Portobello Park to allow a new Portobello High School to be built there. A report on the outcome of the consultation is due to be discussed by councillors next month.
A further £10.5m towards other capital projects was also agreed at the council’s budget meeting. A detailed report will be presented soon on those schemes.
