A further £1 billion to improve Scottish school buildings
The Scottish Government’s Deputy First Minister, John Swinney has announced a further £1 billion for rebuilding and refurbishing the country’s schools.
The funding aims to benefit pupils and the local economy by delivering digitally enabled and low-carbon spaces. The design of the schools will ensure they are inclusive and welcoming places.
The new funding will kick in from 2021, when the current school building programme ends.
The Scottish Government will be working with The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and councils to decide which schools to priorities and will benefit most from the project. A strong focus will be on those in the poorest conditions.
Swinney said at the Education Buildings Scotland conference in Edinburgh: “Every pupil should have the best support throughout their education, which includes access to high quality facilities. We have worked closely with local authorities since 2009 and will deliver 117 new school projects benefiting 60,000 by March 2020.”
A total of £1.8 billion has been invested in the school estate since 2009 through the Schools for the Future programme, including £1.13billion of Scottish Government funding and £665million from councils.
Design and development work will begin in 2019.
Picture credit: iStock/ Petarpaunchev
