£5M boost for Scottish schools

Part of efforts to become education world leader.

Some £5M of funding is to improve education facilities across Scotland, it has been announced.

The Education Secretary has disclosed the chosen projects at Hazelwood School in Glasgow.

A total of 20 projects are to benefit from the Inspiring Learning Spaces fund, spanning 19 local authorities.

The fund serves to provide innovative teaching environments and promote flexible learning within Scottish schools. It also enables the formation of closer partnerships between schools and further education, in accordance with Curriculum for Excellence.

Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Education, said: “We have a strong track record in improving the spaces in which children and young people learn. The number of children now learning in poor or bad condition schools has halved since 2007. But there is more to do.

“We want to deliver a world class education for every child in the country and the space in which children learn has a key role to play. In addition to creating enjoyable, creative and modern learning spaces, these projects will also help make the transition from school to further education, training or employment easier for young people.

“It’s encouraging that many of the submissions from local authorities involve working with partners including further and higher education institutions and schools across their areas so more pupils can benefit from these new spaces.

“I’m also pleased to see such a wide variety of subjects covered by these projects. From ICT to engineering and STEM subjects to hospitality. And it’s not just pupils who will benefit as many of the spaces will also allow staff to develop their skills and will provide facilities the wider community can use.”

The country’s capital is amongst the areas to receive funding, with £300,000 going towards four Learning Spaces of the Future, helping to transform Glasgow’s existing vacant classrooms into state-of-the-art learning environments.

Councillor Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People, said: “Glasgow always strives to be innovative and sector-leading in school and learning space design and constantly looking at new ways to inspire creativity in and out of the traditional classroom.

“We welcome these additional funds and working in partnership to create flexible, inspired educational spaces that are fit for our modern and vibrant young people.”

Inspiring Learning Spaces also complies with the greener schools commitment. The Scottish Futures Trust received funding to set up a Greener Schools short life working group with the help of the council’s energy managers.

Grant Robertson, Schools Programme Director at Scottish Futures Trust, said: “The way in which pupils are educated is ever changing. It’s therefore vital we look at the various physical environments where they learn and explore what that might look like in the future. Part of the change will involve placing greater emphasis on building stronger links between schools and colleges and industry by ensuring pupils have the best education environment allowing them to be fully prepared for life after school.

“In helping co-ordinate the Inspiring Learning Spaces programme, we have been impressed by the many thought-provoking ideas being put forward by local authorities, and are very much looking forward to working with those who have been awarded funding to see their ideas become reality.”

Inspiring Learning Spaces comes following Scotland’s £1.8Bn programme, Schools for the Future, which is similarly part of efforts to become a world leader in education.

Already, more than 520 schools have been rebuilt or refurbished since 2007, constituting 20% of the entire school estate.

The new Inspiring Learning Spaces projects are due to be completed over the next two years.

 

 

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