Four South Lanarkshire secondary schools are to be expanded to help manage the increase in pupils.
At the executive committee meeting earlier this week, councillors approved plans to expand Calderside Academy, Holy Cross High School, St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School and Uddingston Grammar.
The increase in pupils across the area has come as a result of Community Growth Areas, which are part of the City Deal agreement, and has resulted in significant housing expansion.
Blantyre’s Calderside Academy will receive eight additional classroomst, as well as a new multi-purpose area. The new classrooms will be for additional support needs pupils (ASN), which would allow mainstream classrooms currently being used for ASN to then revert to mainstream accommodation.
A separate teaching block close to the existing school building will be constructed at Hamilton’s Holy Cross High School, allowing the school to manage the projected increase in pupils.
Additional classrooms in a separate building close to St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School, in East Kilbride, will also be constructed.
And a small extension to the rear of Uddingston Grammar, along with the realignment of existing classroom space, will help to create more teaching space.
Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “The projected increase in pupil numbers across South Lanarkshire emphasises that the area is a fantastic place for people to live, work and raise their families.
“Our school estate is among the best in the country, and we should be proud of the modern, innovative learning environments available to our pupils in both secondary and primary education.
“We recognise that the projected increase in pupil numbers means that some of our schools may have faced capacity challenges in the coming years, but the solutions that have been agreed will mean our school estate can expand to accommodate those numbers.
“These changes mean our school estate will continue to provide the learning environment to allow our young people to flourish.”
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