MSP calls for decision on future plans to develop Liberton High School

The ageing campus on Gilmerton Road could be developed in partnership with a Gaelic secondary school, as part of multi-million-pound plans for the site.

The council has previously said the dual campus with Liberton High School is the only deliverable option that is in line with the Scottish Government’s learning estate strategy, and it is hoped the new dual campus could open its doors in 2024.

The current secondary-age Gaelic medium education (GME) unit has to move from its existing base at James Gillespie's High School because the school is at capacity with pupil numbers set to grow.

Now, the council has confirmed that the redevelopment of Liberton High School is the local authority’s top priority, as part of a bid for funding from the Scottish government’s learning estates investment programme.

Conservative MSP for Lothian, Miles Briggs, said: “Pupils, teachers and patients have been waiting far too long for a replacement Liberton High School, with the current building being patched together whilst students are studying.

“Time and again Liberton High School has been overlooked for a replacement building and we must see action from SNP ministers to ensure that this does not happen again.

“Edinburgh Council have made it clear to the Scottish government that a replacement building for Liberton High School is their top priority and SNP ministers must deliver.

“Pupils at Liberton High School deserve the best possible environment for learning and the current school building is not fit for purpose.”

Today, Mr Briggs submitted a question to Deputy First Minister John Swinney, ‘to ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the delivery of a new-build Liberton High School’.

In a written response, the Mr Swinney replied: “It is the statutory responsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council to manage its school estate.

“The Scottish government works with local authorities to provide additionality to their own investment plans and phase two of the learning estate investment programmewill be announced by the end of 2020.”

An Edinburgh City Council spokesperson said: “We have submitted an update on our learning estate strategy to the Scottish government as requested and are waiting for their decision as to which projects across Scotland they will be supporting as part of phase two of their learning estate investment programme.”

In November, an informal consultation was launched on where to site a new Gaelic secondary school in the capital.

Four options have been outlined by the council, but it makes clear its preference is for a new GME high school to be co-located with a new Liberton High School at the existing Liberton site at a cost of £30 million.

The other options are a new building with its own campus on the site of the current Castlebrae High School in Craigmillar when Castlebrae moves to its new site, which would cost an estimated £45m; a new building with its own campus at Granton Waterfront with a £50m price tag; and a separate building on the same campus as Wester Hailes Education Centre for £30m.

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