Falkirk Council: £23m funding will allow expansion of Carrongrange school to add primary campus

News came through this afternoon that the local authority was one of ten across Scotland to share in a £500 million funding pot as part of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).

The third phase will give Falkirk £23 million which will see Carrongrange High School in Grangemouth expanded to increase capacity and provide a new campus for primary-aged pupils who have additional support needs.

The council say this will allow “an expansion of the range of support available for the growing number of pupils with severe and complex learning needs” from across the area.

When completed, the school will provide 20 primary classes as well as ten secondary classes.

It will ensure that pupils with additional support needs can receive support at one dedicated location with new high-specification classrooms.

Also, pupils will no longer have to be taken outside the area to attend classes.

The bid was submitted to the LEIP, a joint initiative between the Scottish Government and CoSLA, aimed at transforming and improving learning environments across Scottish schools.

The project will be funded by both Falkirk Council and the Scottish Government, with the exact project timeframes still being agreed.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council said: “This award will allow us to offer an even better education and learning experience for pupils aged five to 18 who have complex and severe learning needs.

“We have recognised that there are many advantages to locating this kind of support at one location making it easier for parents and carers to access the specialist support on offer without having to travel to various locations both in Falkirk and beyond.

“Pupils will benefit by being in a single campus throughout their educational journey.

“This development is a re-enforcing of the council's dedication to promoting opportunities and educational attainment as well as reducing inequalities priorities.”

Councillor Iain Sinclair, spokesperson for education, said: “The new campus will offer the best in learning opportunities and a very welcoming environment for pupils. It will mean we will have a fully integrated primary through to high school campus that is dedicated to enabling and supporting the amazing work that teachers and school staff already carry out at Carrongrange to develop and nurture our pupils with additional support needs.”