Hibs and Hearts offer space for pupils going back to school in Edinburgh in August

PUPILS heading back to school in August could kick off the new academic year at Easter Road or Tynecastle if the council takes up offers from Hibs and Hearts.

The authority has been criticised over plans to give pupils lessons in schools for an average of just 1.3 days a week.

And Education Secretary John Swinney urged them to look for extra accommodation.

Hibs revealed they had already written to the council offering talks on the use of the function suites at Easter Road.

A spokesman said: “We would have to have a discussion about the costs - we’re not in a position to offer support financially but we do have space.

“We have three large, fully fitted buildings. Each function suite can normally seat 100-120 adults - even with social distancing, you’d be talking about comfortably 50 in each of them and half a dozen rooms. And as a stadium it has lots of entrances and exits and toilets - and a commercial kitchen.”

It is understood Hearts have offered space to Tynecastle High.

And St Cuthbert’s Church on Lothian Road is also ready to help. The Rev Peter Sutton said: “We have a big building in a central location. We’ve got cooking facilities, tons of really good space, really good electrics so you can plug in all your computers.

“We’re just saying ‘We’re here, and if you need us we will very happily give you a second campus for a whole academic year - and it comes with a ready-made playground because we’re in West Princes Street Gardens.”

Education convener Ian Perry said schools were trying to make the best use of space within their own buildings and the council would then look first at other council premises that may be suitable for teaching and learning.