Stirling Council has approved funding of more than £23 million to deliver a new state-of-the-art primary school in Callander.
The development site for the proposed new school will sit adjacent to Callander Nursery, McLaren High School and McLaren Leisure Centre, creating a new Callander Community Campus.
Funding for the project was approved as part of Stirling Council’s capital investment programme at March’s budget setting meeting.
Following approval to begin the procurement process of a design and build contract at a recent children and young people committee meeting, the council is expected to make an imminent planning application for the new school.
Should this be successful it is hoped work will begin on the facility in early 2024 with the building to be open for the beginning of term in August 2025.
The council is still seeking feedback and opinions on the proposed new Callander Primary School via the Engage Stirling platform where more information on the community campus is available.
Children and young people convener Councillor Danny Gibson said: “This major investment for a new primary school in Callander underlines Stirling Council’s commitment to invest in its education infrastructure and ensure
our children and young people can achieve their potential.
“The project will deliver a modern learning and teaching facility in Callander that neighbours Callander Nursery, McLaren High and McLaren Leisure Centre, providing greater integration for pupils, families and the local community.
“We look forward to engaging with pupils, parents, the wider community and other stakeholders to support our delivery of a high-quality primary school that meets the needs of young people in the area for many years to come.”
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The consultation document states: “There are limited places for outdoor learning or other activities.
“The existing building is constrained and does not provide a modern day learning environment that the children of Callander deserve, therefore, a new building is an appropriate way forward to ensure the needs of the school and curriculum are accommodated.
“The new site enables the creation of an enhanced learner journey through all age groups and will provide better integration with the leisure centre to create a community hub to the south of the river.”
As a major development the project has to undergo a pre-application consultation period before any formal planning application is lodged.
As part of this, a drop-in event takes place at the McLaren Suite in McLaren High School on Tuesday, May 30 from 3.30-7.30pm.
While any comments made at this stage may shape the proposals which are eventually lodged, any representations of comment, support or objection to Stirling Council as the planning authority will only be invited once a formal planning application is submitted.
In 2018 the current primary school building was given one of the lowest suitability ratings of any school building in the Stirling Council area.
At that time, under new assessment criteria, 25 per cent of schools were said to be in a good condition (A rating), and 68 per cent were deemed satisfactory (B) although said to still have “significant defects”, with 18 establishments classed as “low B”.
However, Callander was one of only a handful rated as C, with Allan’s Primary in Stirling the only one with a D-rating.
The suitability ratings were partly based on assessments carried out by headteachers.
In 2018 parent power at the school led to urgent repairs being carried out on the building and sparked discussions on having it replaced.
Refurbishment work was later carried out and security and toilet facilities at the school upgraded but the then council leader Scott Farmer said that a new educational facility in Callander was “under serious consideration”.
The initial public consultation on the Callander Community Campus project remains open on the Engage Stirling online platform until Friday, June 9.
