A NEW purpose-built Abercromby Primary School is being planned, Clackmannanshire Council’s Education, Sport and Leisure Committee heard last week.

The Scottish Government’s Schools for the Future Programme has offered funding for the replacement or refurbishment of the school, which was built in 1951, and a meeting of Clackmannanshire Council will be asked to formally accept the offer, with the education service set to carry out a full option appraisal.

Due to its condition the Tullibody school is assessed as being the one in Clacks which is eligible for the funding.

The council says it is also operating above capacity and is not able to fully support an active and engaging 21st century learning experience.

The funding would be for up to 50 per cent of the cost, with the council funding the balance, with building expected to be completed by 2020.

Education convener councillor Ellen Forson (above) said: “We want to ensure that young people in Clackmannanshire benefit from the exciting opportunities that 21st century learning facilities can deliver.

"It’s clear that we need to replace Abercromby Primary School’s buildings to help meet our high aspirations for the future, and I’m delighted that we have been able to get initial agreement for funding from Schools for the Future.

“Clackmannanshire Council has been successful in bidding for money under the schools programme, and the recently opened Redwell Primary shows just what fantastic and innovative facilities we can deliver for our children as part of the Making Clackmannanshire Better programme.

"I am also pleased that officers are working to adjust plans to deliver a new school in Sauchie West to ensure that the external funding is secured to meet the expected housing development there.”

The report to the committee on Thursday (20 November) confirmed the education service is in negotiations with the Scottish Government to change the timeline for funding which had already been allocated for a new school in Sauchie West, so that it can be retained for future use when the proposed housing development there has progressed.

The committee also agreed to undertake a consultation process to change the catchment area around the proposed new Forestmilll development.

This would sit initially within the catchment area of Clackmannan Primary and Lornshill Academy.

However a development of this size would mean an extension to Lornshill Academy to meet demand, as would moving the catchment to Alloa Academy.

Alva Academy has the potential to provide the extended capacity in the most efficient and cost effective way.

Since Tillicoultry Primary has considerable spare capacity, it is planned that primary aged pupils from the Forestmilll development would initially be transported there until a new primary school is built within the development.