Scottish councils announce school infrastructure expansions

Local councils in Scotland are advancing significant educational infrastructure projects. In East Lothian, councillors have approved plans to increase the number of additional support needs (ASN) units in mainstream schools from six to nine. This expansion aims to provide 122 more places for pupils requiring specialist provision, addressing a demand that has more than doubled over the last five years. The move is expected to save approximately £9 million annually by reducing the costs associated with transporting students out of the county.

In the Highlands, the Highland Council is seeking public feedback on a proposed £100 million investment to create a new education campus in Thurso. The plan involves merging Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School into a single primary school with Early Learning and Childcare and Gaelic Medium Education provisions. This new facility would be co-located with a new Thurso High School on a single campus designed to serve as a community hub, integrating education with various local services.