The nationwide push to rebuild and improve Scotland's schools received another boost on friday as the Scottish Government confirmed £80m of funding to build four new low energy schools in Inverclyde.

The Inverclyde Council Schools PPP project will deliver two new primaries and two new secondaries, with around 2,500 pupils set to benefit from the move into state-of-the-art learning facilities.

In the first tie-up of its kind in Scotland, the Carbon Trust has been working alongside Inverclyde Council and the building consortium e4i on ways to minimise the carbon footprint of the four schools. The independent company set up by Government to advise on addressing climate change, worked with the Council through the procurement process and provided a range of technical advice including good use of natural light, improved insulation and high standards of air tightness.


The new low-energy schools are All Saints Primary (replacing St Kenneth's and St Lawrence's primaries), Aileymill Primary (replacing Earnhill and Ravenscraig primaries), a replacement for Notre Dame High and a replacement for Greenock Academy and Gourock High (no name as yet for new school).

The primary schools are expected to open in spring 2010 and the secondary schools in the summer of 2011

Maureen Watt, Minister for Schools and Skills, said: "This Government is committed to lifting 100,000 school pupils, by 2011, out of tired and crumbling school buildings and classrooms and providing them with cutting-edge accommodation and facilities in which to continue their 21st century education. The commitment to the Inverclyde project is a clear demonstration of this.

"We need to focus on how best school buildings and grounds can inspire and support the educational activity and experience of pupils, staff and the wider community which use them, in order to ensure Scotland has a school estate fit for the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence."

The announcement is not only good news for teachers, parents and pupils but also for the local economy which is expected to benefit from the building work.

Two Scottish businesses - Miller e4i Investments Ltd and FES - are part of the consortium working to deliver the project, which has a capital value of £85.3m. The other companies are Cyril Sweett Investment Limited and Partnership and Land Securities Trillium.

Phil McVey, the director of e4i, said: "We are delighted that financial close has been reached, and that work on delivering these modern, state-of-the-art educational facilities to Inverclyde can begin immediately."

(GK/JM)