Edinburgh Council reveals new ideas to tackle growing school population

Edinburgh Council has revealed new ideas to deal with the city's growing school population.

Projections by the local authority show that by 2027, the number of kids in Edinburgh's primary schools will increase by 8% and by 30% in secondary schools.

The staggering growth has forced councillors to come up with solutions to dealing with potential overcrowding in schools.

Last year they published a proposal to merge high schools in Currie and Wester Hailes, but faced backlash from a number of parents.

The local authority has now revealed details of three new plans which include:

Option 1:

• No change to Forrester High School catchment or building capacity.

• No change to WHEC catchment or building capacity.

• Cherry Trees/Newmills area of Currie High School catchment is realigned with Balerno High School.

• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.

• Balerno High School expands to 1,000 pupil capacity. Dean Park, Kirknewton and Ratho remain the feeder primary schools.

• Currie High School expands to 1,000 pupil capacity. Currie, Nether Currie and Juniper Green remain the feeder primary schools.

• Kirkliston Primary School, Hillwood Primary School and a new Maybury Primary School would feed to the new West Edinburgh School. The new school would have capacity for 1,200 pupils.

• Alternative sites for a new high school in and around Kirkliston require further consideration before any statutory consultation is progressed.

Option 2:

• No change to Forrester High School catchment or building capacity.

• All WHEC feeders (Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill Primaries) would feed to a new South West Edinburgh School. The new school would have capacity for 900 pupils.

• Juniper Green Primary School would be realigned with a new South West Edinburgh School (it currently feeds to Currie HS).

• Cherry Trees/Newmills area would remain in Currie High School catchment.

• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.

• Balerno High School expands to 900 pupil capacity. Dean Park, Kirknewton and Ratho continue to be feeder primary schools.

• Currie High School reduced to 800 pupil capacity. Currie and Nether Currie continue to be feeder primary schools.

• Kirkliston Primary School and Hillwood Primary School would feed to one of the new West Edinburgh Schools. The new school would have and initial capacity for 600 pupils but would be extendable. Alternative sites for a new high school in and around Kirkliston require further consideration before any statutory consultation is progressed.

• A second high school to accommodate pupils from the new Maybury Primary School and any future primary school which may emerge as a result of further housing sites in this area which gain planning approval is suggested in this option. The new school would have and initial capacity for 600 pupils but would be extendable.

Option 3:

• Secondary education would no longer be provided at WHEC but a community hub would be retained.

• Canal View and Clovenstone Primary Schools would feed to Currie High School (rebuilt/expanded on its existing site or if feasible an alternative site in a more central location within the catchment).

• Sighthill Primary School would be realigned with Forrester High School.

• Cherry Trees/Newmills area of Currie High School catchment is realigned with Balerno High School.

• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.

• Currie High School expands to 1,600 pupil capacity. Two site options. Woodlands school relocated if site option 2 progressed.

• Balerno High School expands to 1,000 pupil capacity. Dean Park, Kirknewton and Ratho continue to be feeder primary schools.

• Kirkliston Primary School, Hillwood Primary School and a new Maybury Primary School would feed to the new West Edinburgh School. The new school would have capacity for 1,200 pupils.

• Alternative sites for a new high school in and around Kirkliston require further consideration before any statutory consultation is progressed

A final decision is set to be made in May, with the changes potentially coming in to force by the year 2022.