Question reference: S6W-25355
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 7 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with South Lanarkshire Council towards building a new social, emotional and behavioural needs secondary school for young people in Stonehouse.
Answer
Although South Lanarkshire Council’s Phase 3 Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) submission - regarding a new social, emotional and behavioural needs secondary school - was unsuccessful, we have awarded the Council with funding support for its Newton Farm Primary School extension project as part of Phase 2 of the LEIP.
In addition, through the previous Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme, the Scottish Government awarded the Council with funding of over £14m towards 5 school projects.
It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, and Scottish Government funding is intended to augment, not replace, local authorities’ own investment in their schools.
The proportion of schools in “good” or “satisfactory” condition in Scotland has increased from 61% in April 2007 to almost 91% in April 2023, and LEIP investment will build on this progress.
We will continue working with COSLA, local authorities and Scottish Futures Trust to explore how we can deliver further improvements in the school estate.