THE first steps towards the relocation of Clackmannanshire's primary school for children with profound additional needs are to be taken tomorrow.

Elected members on Clackmannanshire Council will be asked to agree to submit a bid to the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) for a Lochies PS replacement.

The meeting, on Thursday, October 6, will hear that during surveys carried out over the 2021-22 academic year, Lochies was the only school in the local authority to be graded as a category D, or “unsatisfactory”, in the suitability category.

The condition of the building was also assessed as being “poor” and councillors will hear how a new-build “would enrich the educational experience of pupils by providing equality, ensuring that the needs of all Clackmannanshire pupils can be met”.

As previously reported, a site in the west of Alloa, known as the Pavilions site, has been chosen recently for the Wee County's to-be-built wellbeing hub, which will feature a swimming pool and more.

One of the reasons the site was picked, as explained then, was that the area could accommodate a new-build Lochies and that a shared campus and co-location could enhance both the experience of children as well as the bidding process.

Documents to be tabled for the meeting outlined how five sites have been considered for the relocation of the school, including land near the Bowmar Centre which suffers from serious drainage issues.

The site in Alloa West is the largest, promises great outdoor access and has the potential for links with the wellbeing hub, council papers said.

Graham Lindsay, deputy council leader and education spokesperson, told the Advertiser: “It rubber-stamps the decision we took at the previous meeting, choosing the Pavilions site for the wellbeing hub.

“What has come back in relation to this paper is that the preferred site for Lochies is the Pavilions site – it reinforces the decision we took at the last council meeting was the right decision.”

Council documents will outline how the location, size, layout and access of the current Lochies school means there are “significant issues across all areas of the school”.

The needs of the school have changed since moving into the building and the additional support needs of pupils are now more severe, papers added.

The number of pupils has also seen a significant rise and consequently, the building is not suitable.

Documents read: “Staff are meeting the needs of pupils but the building is making this more and more challenging.

“This has resulted in one pupil having to attend a school in another local authority.”

The meeting will also hear that Deerpark and St Mungo's schools are part of the next appraisal package and a report will be brought back on them in the future.