PUPILS at Paisley Grammar School marked their final day in the school’s current building with a day of activities, as they prepare to start the new school year in a modern learning campus.
The new £85 million Paisley Grammar School Community Campus will open to pupils in August, with Morrison Construction behind the build – with work first beginning in March 2025.
Designed to support high-quality learning and provide enhanced opportunities for both the school and wider community, the campus will also become home to Renfrewshire’s Music School – bringing together talented young musicians from across the area in purpose-built facilities that will support music education alongside the wider curriculum.
The new campus sits alongside significant investment in local infrastructure, including the new east–west road and junction improvements, delivered as part of the wider AMIDS South project. The investment will improve access to the school and surrounding area, while strengthening links between Paisley town centre, Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).
The original Paisley Grammar School has been at the heart of the community for generations. Founded in 1576, its existing school building was built in 1898. As its doors prepare to close, pupils, staff, and alumni reflected on the many memories created within its walls.
To mark the occasion, pupils celebrated their final day on Friday with a range of activities and festivities – including inflatables and games, a Paisley Grammar splash zone, silent disco, ice cream van, and other end-of-term celebrations.
The final weeks have seen a strong response from the community, with farewell visits throughout June being fully booked.
Janice Levens, head teacher at Paisley Grammar School, said, “Friday was a very special and emotional day for our school community. This building has been part of so many lives over the years, and it holds a great deal of history and pride.
“While it is difficult to say goodbye, we are also looking forward with excitement to the opportunities our new school will bring for our pupils and staff.”
Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s education and children’s services policy board, added, “This is a significant moment for Paisley Grammar School and for the wider community. While we recognise the importance of the school’s history, we are also investing in its future.
“The new campus will provide outstanding facilities that will benefit pupils, staff and the community for many years to come.
The future of the current Paisley Grammar School building has also taken an important step forward. Renfrewshire Council has agreed Nixon as the preferred purchaser of the site, and the company has submitted plans to convert the historic core of the school into flats, helping preserve the iconic building for future generations. The more modern extensions would be demolished and replaced with new-build homes, subject to planning approval.
