Learning Estate Programme Update ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 20 August 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 20 August 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
PUBLIC To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 20 August 2026 __________________________________________________________________ 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 live 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 project construction and design progress. 1.3. Concurrently, the Learning Estate Strategy continues to progress with the development of the Full Business Case (FBC) process for the following three projects: • Trinity High School • Johnstone Primary School Estate • Johnstone High School __________________________________________________________________ 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. 2.2. Note the school badge chosen by the children for the new Thistle Primary School.
Page 2
PUBLIC 2.3. Note the intention to make best use of space flexibility within Thistle Primary School, by introducing an early years provision 3. Paisley Grammar School Community Campus 3.1. The project to deliver a new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus has delivered on time, and on budget through to formal project closure. The new school will open to pupils and staff in August 2026 with pupils arriving through the doors on the 20th of August. 3.2. The construction of the new school building is now complete with supporting infrastructure as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) South project ongoing in the vicinity of the new school campus to create further road and active travel opportunities. 3.3. The school is ready to deliver a high quality learning and teaching environment with a significant amount of work undertaken to fit the building out with all equipment and provisions, as well as undertaking a comprehensive move management process from the former Paisley Grammar school building, to the new school and community campus on Renfrew Road. 3.4. Members should note that officers have been working to explore all avenues for retaining and relocating the War Memorial situated within the existing Paisley Grammar School. Following engagement with various organisations, community groups, and Historic Environment Scotland, officers intend to progress with plans to relocate the War Memorial to Paisley Abbey. The Abbey have worked with officers to outline a plan to situate the Memorial on display that will be available for public viewing. 3.5. Having considered multiple options, this is the most appropriate for the long term viability of the Memorial and aligns with the historical connection of the Abbey with the school. This option will support public viewing of the Memorial for the first time, something which has not been possible to date, with the Memorial having been located in an operational school setting. 3.6. Members should note that a recommendation will be made to the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board in August 2026 to receive consent to remove and relocate the Memorial away from the existing Paisley Grammar School prior to the ownership of the building passing over to a private third party. 3.7. During the appraisal of options, it was considered whether the Memorial could move to the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus. As the Memorial has not been designed into the newly constructed building, there is no place that can support a structure of its size that would not impede on space planned layouts for the school, or on operational fire escape routes. The only solution to being able to house the Memorial at the new school would be to lose educational teaching space and locate the Memorial into a classroom. This option is therefore considered not viable when balancing it against the option to relocate to the Abbey.
Page 3
PUBLIC 4. Park Mains High School Extension & Internal Interventions 4.1. Construction work is progressing on track for an August 2027 completion. Phase 1 of the project has now completed which delivered all ground works and site setup. 4.2. The Main Works of construction have been ongoing since June 2026, which is seeing the creation of the two new teaching blocks in the grounds of the school. An additional car park has been created as well as significant alterations and increase to the bus drop off/pick up point. 4.3. The first phase of internal reconfiguration and move management has also been ongoing over the summer holiday period, with future phases planned in collaboration with the school operational requirements. __________________________________________________________________ 5. Thistle Primary School 5.1. The Main Works construction for Thistle Primary continues to progress on track for summer 2027 completion. 5.2. The building is progressing towards being fully wind and watertight with windows, brickwork, and cladding progressing. Work is also commencing on the full-size artificial pitch construction. 5.3. Members are asked to note that following an engagement process with local young people, a school badge has now been developed and chosen. This forms an important step in the development of the school identity, being led by the Head Teacher. An image of the school badge is shown below: 5.4. The Head Teacher is in the process of establishing a parent/carer steering group where the intention is to further develop the school identity through discussions around uniform, vision and values, as well as operational aspects, for example out of school care. 5.5. Officers are continuing to plan for the wider benefit that the new primary school can deliver for the community. Recently, revised statutory guidance has been issued by the Scottish Government, increasing the eligibility for 2 year olds to access free early years provision. The Council has a requirement to meet this, and subsequently a benefit could be gained by increasing access to early years provision in the area. Officers have considered the flexible design of Thistle Primary School building and
Page 4
PUBLIC have the opportunity to establish an early years provision in a section of the school with minimal alterations. 5.6. Developing an early years provision in Thistle Primary School through a flexible and agile use of the space, will allow this position to remain under review, and be considered alongside any long term strategic estate plans for the years ahead. Operationally, officers will work with the existing Dargavel ELCC to determine the most appropriate operating model between Dargavel ELCC and Thistle Primary School early years provision. __________________________________________________________________ 6. Business Case Updates 6.1. A significant and comprehensive engagement process has been underway since May for the Johnstone learning estate, which has seen officers facilitate events for all school staff, parents/carers, pupils, and the local community. This has been supplemented with a survey offering the ability for anyone to provide their views. Officers have also been engaging internally with all Council services to understand operational views on any of the shortlisted options for Johnstone projects, which will be vital to understand any implications of shortlisted sites at this early stage. 6.2. Work is underway to analyse and understand all views that have been presented through the initial engagement process, to help shape the next phase of engagement to follow. 6.3. Note that following the decision at the May 2026 Education & Children’s Services Policy Board, the engagement process for Trinity High School will commence following the August Policy Board, where a decision will be made on the final shortlist of sites. 6.4. Officers have been working to appoint a number of specialist technical consultants as presented in the Outline Business Case. These consultants will analyse essential information that will be compiled into the final decision making process for each process at the conclusion of the FBC process. ______________________________________________________________ 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. 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
Page 5
PUBLIC 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. 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
Page 6
PUBLIC 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 Aug 2026 Author: Jack Lochans – Strategic Learning Estate Manager jack.lochans@renfrewshire.gov.uk