News Stories

Boroughmuir in the News
The Edinburgh Evening News have followed the issues concerning the plans for a new Boroughmuir, and the other Wave 3 schools.  These stories are assembled here :

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School consultation is 'biased'

Published Date: 31 October 2008 : By Gemma Fraser

ANGRY parents at an ageing city high school claim the council's consultation into its future is biased, saying it has not been "even-handed" in its support for the two options on the table.

Education leader Marilyne MacLaren has agreed to extend the deadline for consultation over the proposals for Boroughmuir High School from Monday to Friday, after concerns that parents had not been given enough time to respond to the various options.

The Action for Boroughmuir group had also asked the council to hold public meetings so parents could get more information to make an "informed decision". Read the full article here.

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Parents hold revamp talks

Published Date: 30 October 2008
PARENTS concerned about the future of their children's school met last night to discuss their fears.
Boroughmuir High's parent council invited parents and politicians to talk about plans for the modernisation of the Viewforth school. Full article here.

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Boroughmuir refurbishment could take up to four years

Published Date: 22 October 2008
REFURBISHING one of Edinburgh's crumbling high schools could take four years, it has emerged.
The city council has put forward two options for the future of Boroughmuir High School in Viewforth, which is one of five schools waiting to be modernised under its "wave three" initiative.

One option is to refurbish and extend the school on its current site, while the other is to build a brand new school on Scottish Water-owned land at Fairmilehead.

Parents are currently being consulted on their preference.  Read more.

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New-build city schools facing £17m crunch time

Published Date: 20 October 2008; By Gemma Fraser, Evening News

THE future of a major school modernisation programme is facing fresh doubts after it emerged more than half the money earmarked by the city council to fund the project is in jeopardy as a result of the credit crunch.
Council bosses have admitted that "a degree of risk" surrounds £17 million of the £33m that it has committed to rebuilding or replacing five crumbling schools in the city.  Read on here

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Edinburgh takes First Step Towards Next Phase of Rebuilding Schools in the City 

Published Date: 27 March 2008

The City of Edinburgh Council has taken the first step towards the next phase of rebuilding schools in the city by submitting feasibility studies for five new schools to the Scottish Government.

Studies have been carried out on Portobello, James Gillespie’s and Boroughmuir High Schools, St John’s Primary and St Crispin’s school.

Cllr MacLaren Convener of Education Children and Families said "The Council has now allocated £33m, 20% of the total cost of the five new schools, which demonstrates our absolute commitment to these projects.

I am delighted we have now submitted the feasibility studies to the Scottish Government, which were produced working in partnership with each school community. Feedback from parents and staff was extremely useful and will now inform the final business cases which will be completed by June of this year.

We have now done everything possible to ensure the delivery of these projects and I now look forward to working with the Scottish Government to identify funding mechanisms and very much hope that they can assist us to deliver these new schools in the coming years.”

For further information please contact Sara Dunbar, Media and Communications Officer, tel: 0131 469 3356

Published Date: 20 October 2008; By Gemma Fraser, Evening News

THE future of a major school modernisation programme is facing fresh doubts after it emerged more than half the money earmarked by the city council to fund the project is in jeopardy as a result of the credit crunch.
Council bosses have admitted that "a degree of risk" surrounds £17 million of the £33m that it has committed to rebuilding or replacing five crumbling schools in the city.  Read on here

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Edinburgh takes First Step Towards Next Phase of Rebuilding Schools in the City 

Published Date: 27 March 2008

The City of Edinburgh Council has taken the first step towards the next phase of rebuilding schools in the city by submitting feasibility studies for five new schools to the Scottish Government.

Studies have been carried out on Portobello, James Gillespie’s and Boroughmuir High Schools, St John’s Primary and St Crispin’s school.

Cllr MacLaren Convener of Education Children and Families said "The Council has now allocated £33m, 20% of the total cost of the five new schools, which demonstrates our absolute commitment to these projects.

I am delighted we have now submitted the feasibility studies to the Scottish Government, which were produced working in partnership with each school community. Feedback from parents and staff was extremely useful and will now inform the final business cases which will be completed by June of this year.

We have now done everything possible to ensure the delivery of these projects and I now look forward to working with the Scottish Government to identify funding mechanisms and very much hope that they can assist us to deliver these new schools in the coming years.”

For further information please contact Sara Dunbar, Media and Communications Officer, tel: 0131 469 3356