10, Learning Estate Programme Update ECSPB 21 08 25
Renfrewshire Council · 21 August 2025
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 21 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 21 August 2025 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services __________________________________________________________________ Heading: Learning Estate Programme Update __________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. The current phase of the Learning Estate Delivery Programme is ongoing with the following projects: • Paisley Grammar School Community Campus • Park Mains High School Extension & Internal Interventions • Thistle Primary School 1.2. This report provides a short update on the latest development of each project. __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations Members of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board are asked to: 2.1. Note the progress of project delivery in the Learning Estate Programme. 3. Paisley Grammar School Community Campus 3.1. The project to deliver a new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus continues to deliver on track and is scheduled to complete in summer 2026. Construction is slightly beyond the halfway point now, and the progress is evident when witnessing the current stage of construction. 3.2. The building now features a large amount of its external cladding, bringing the building closer to its finished look. From an internal perspective, work is beginning on the fit out with some areas now at the point of having aspects such as flooring, and fixed furniture such as cabinets and worktops. 3.3. The formation of the external pitches has commenced and will soon be visible.
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4. Park Mains High School Extension & Internal Interventions 4.1. The design process has now concluded the RIBA Stage 3 process which is ‘Spatial Coordination’ and has progressed into the final design stage, RIBA 4, which is ‘Technical Design’. The project is currently at the point of having a design that is coordinated from a structural and space perspective. The next step of the process is to add all elements of detail including mechanical and electrical services, finished, and specialist sub-contractor design input. 4.2. Due to the stage of the design, the major planning application has now also been submitted. It is anticipated that a decision will be made on the application at the relevant policy board later this year. 4.3. The project will progress through the final design stage for the remainder of this year and it is anticipated that all commercial arrangements will be in place to allow a final contract award to the contractor in early 2026 for construction. 4.4. The project remains on track to complete in the summer of 2027 with close monitoring and management being applied to these current stages of design and commercial agreement. 5. Thistle Primary School 5.1. The design process for the new Thistle Primary School in Dargavel is at the same formal stage of design as Park Mains High School project – ‘Technical Design’ – albeit it is at a slightly more advanced stage of the final design. 5.2. With planning permission already granted, the project is progressing through the building warrant process, and it is intended that a contract recommendation for the first major phase of the construction contract will be submitted to the September Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board for approval. This will allow the contractor to begin the formal construction of the school and all supporting provisions in the months to come towards the end of 2025. 5.3. A period of civil engineering works to prepare the site for building has been ongoing for a number of months and has now successfully complete on time. This will allow the project to progress to formal construction as noted above, on track, as per the required timeline for completion in summer 2027. 5.4. A further two important projects have been ongoing in the Dargavel area this summer with the construction of a new pick up and drop off facility adjacent to the current Dargavel Primary School progressing well. This facility will be complete in August and operational thereafter to alleviate pressure on the road infrastructure outside the school. The school itself is also undergoing improvement works to the multi use games area, with an astroturf surface installed for both the school and wider community to benefit from. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial All budgets associated with the capital projects discussed in this report have been agreed by Council and undergo rigorous management and quality assurance on a regular basis.
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2. HR and Organisational Development None. 3. Community/Council Planning Our Renfrewshire is thriving - New, and improved, learning estate assets will allow our children and young people to thrive with the best possible infrastructure to support their school experience. Staff, and community users will benefit from modern and inclusive environments. Reshaping our place, our economy and our future - The learning estate shall be appropriately scaled and equipped to meet curriculum expectations and deliver an appropriate learning and teaching experience for all. 4. Legal None. 5. Property/Assets These projects will deliver significant improvements to the learning estate, extending the life of assets, and improving the experience of young people, staff, and the wider community. 6. Information Technology Digital improvements will be delivered through the learning estate strategy, where access to technology for all, will be a key priority for projects. 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety None. 9. Procurement Any procurement work required is conducted in collaboration with the Council’s Procurement team and adheres to appropriate regulations. 10. Risk All projects are bound by rigorous governance and supported by detailed risk registers. Risk is reported and managed at various levels with scrutiny applied to ensure mitigations and contingency plans are in place.
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11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Climate Risk New, and improved, learning estate assets will directly contribute to the Council’s journey towards net zero. Sustainability is a key concept of all projects. 13. Children’s Rights When considering any future school provision, the impact this will have on children is a key consideration, and any work will be based around the direct needs of children to allow their education experience to thrive. Whilst children have a right to choose where they wish to attend school in collaboration with their parents, the council’s admissions policy applies to ensure that schools that are oversubscribed can be managed. 14. Cosla Policy Position None. Children’s Services JL/GM/JO July 2025 Author: Jack Lochans – Strategic Learning Estate Manager jack.lochans@renfrewshire.gov.uk