In the wake of the tragic death of Keane Wallis Bennett at Liberton High, a special Project Group has been convened to consider issues surrounding future PE facilities and the future of the school building itself. The group consists of parents, school staff, senior officials from Education Children and Families Department, Councillor Austin Hart and myself.
Following a prior agreement of Full Council, a new Dance Studio with sprung floor has now been constructed within the main school building. Plans for the construction of a significant extension to the school’s most recent gym hall are now also well advanced and have been shared with the school community.
At its August meeting, Council confirmed that Scottish Government funding will cover 2/3 of the gross capital expenditure of the gym extension up to a maximum of £1,666,667 with the additional 1/3 of funding coming from the City of Edinburgh Council.
It is now anticipated that the ‘old gym’ will be demolished during the October school holidays.
The work of the Project Group will continue toward the end of the year and will continue to look at important longer term issues such as avenues for the provision of a new Liberton High School campus.