Pupils in Clydesdale have come up with original ideas for how their school should use funding.
At the Clydesdale Area Committee meeting on Tuesday (February 15), the participatory budgeting success of three schools was outlined.
Participatory budgeting forms part of the Pupil Equity Fund which is allocated to schools and allows pupils, parents and staff to vote on how funding should be spent.
Although other schools in the area have received funding, some are further down the line in terms of progress but Lanark Grammar School, Rigside Primary School and Victoria Park School have completed the process and pupils had their voices heard.
For Lanark Grammar School, pupils voted to install water fountains in the school and have reusable water bottles supplied.
This was due to the daily cost of a bottle of water in school adding up – at 70p per bottle and the lack of water refill areas – so pupils decided a cost-effective and sustainable way to counter this would be to install water fountains.
Councillor Catherine McClymont (Clydesdale North) said: “I really liked some of those projects, particularly the one from my ward, the Lanark Grammar, I think that’s a really good idea to do the water bottles.”
Pupils in Rigside Primary School decided to spend funding on playground equipment and resources to occupy children during playtime and lunchtime.
This was decided by parents and pupils who identified the lack of playground equipment as a problem.
In Victoria Park School, funding went to enriched learning experiences with a health and wellbeing focus.
A questionnaire was issued to all parents and carers to establish participation in learning experiences out with school time and it highlighted the difficulties children with additional support needs face when trying to access these activities.
Problems include the cost of the activities, transport costs and availability of appropriate clubs.
The funding will help to address the situation with specialised play and leisure based activities with a health and wellbeing focus being integrated into the school on a daily basis.
Councillor David Shearer (Clydesdale West) said: “Great to see Victoria Park being fully involved, it’s a dear wee school to all of us in our ward so we are very protective over Victoria Park.”
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