MORE PUPILS GOING BACK TO NEWLY BUILT AND REFURBISHED SCHOOLS
Published date : 14 Aug 2017
SNP OVERSEES 111% INCREASE IN SCHOOL ESTATE IMPROVEMENTS
The SNP has highlighted figures showing the Scottish Government’s strong record on rebuilding and refurbishing Scotland’s school estate – with more pupils across Scotland returning to school this week in buildings suited to a modern learning environment.
The total number of schools rebuilt or refurbished under the SNP between 2008 and 2016 stands at 651 – representing a 111% increase on the period between 1999 and 2007 under the Labour/Lib Dem coalition, which rebuilt or refurbished 308 schools.
The SNP manifesto launched ahead of the 2016 Scottish elections reaffirmed the party’s commitment to providing children and teachers with the best possible environment in which to learn – and the exemplary record the SNP holds on school buildings shows the Scottish Government can be trusted to build upon this success.
Commenting, SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth, a former teacher, said:
“As many young people from across Scotland head back to school this week, some reflecting on their recent exam results, it is encouraging to know that tens of thousands of them will be doing so in new or refurbished schools.
“These figures highlight the importance the SNP has placed on providing both pupils and teachers with the very best learning environment. As a former teacher myself, I know the difference that a modern, accessible and welcoming school building can make to pupils’ attainment and to the performance of staff.
“The SNP’s manifesto promises to build on the success of our Schools for the Future programme, which has been responsible for these rebuilds and refurbishments. The sustainability and efficiency of our schools is also vitally important – ensuring that our pupils and teachers are able to work in positive and modern buildings, which undoubtedly helps our pupils to learn.
“As Nicola Sturgeon has made clear, education will be the absolute priority of this SNP government and I’m delighted to see more work being done to improve our school estate — to ensure the new or refurbished schools that young people are returning to this week are top of the class.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
All data was sourced by SPICe, obtained from the Scottish Government.
Total number of schools rebuilt and refurbished between 1999 and 2007 was 308, compared to 651 between 2008 and 2016. This represents a 111% increase since the SNP came to power compared with the previous two administrations.
The SNP 2016 Manifesto stated: “No child should have to learn in a school that is in poor or bad condition. Modern, accessible buildings help create the right environment for children to learn and teachers to work in. In the next Parliament, we will bring forward new proposals to build upon the success of Our School for the Future programme which rebuiltor refurbished 607 schools – almost a quarter of the school estate – between 2007 and 2015. We will also work to ensure that our schools are sustainably built, refurbished and maintained and are world-leading in energy efficiency.”
Local Reporters, EDUCATION
