Twenty new schools to be built after £800m investment
- Published
Twenty-two new schools are to be built and three will be refurbished, after investment of £800m was announced.
The developments include several new campus schools, which will see a number of existing schools share a new site.
It means 30 schools, six additional support needs units, two Gaelic medium facilities and seven early learning centres across Scotland will be replaced or refurbished.
Ministers say the work will benefit 21,000 children and young people.
Among the schools to gain from the investment are Peebles High School in the Scottish Borders, and Braeview Academy in Dundee.
They have both been badly damaged by fire in recent years.
The new Findrassie primary school in Elgin is among those earmarked for the funding
Other schools, including Highland Council's Nairn Academy and Broadford Primary in Skye, will see deteriorating buildings completely replaced.
Meanwhile, there will be brand new schools built in Elgin, Irvine, and Glasgow, where there is a high demand for primary school places.
Where will the new schools be built?
Angus Council - Monifieth High School
City of Edinburgh Council - Liberton High School
City of Edinburgh Council - Wester Hailes Education Centre
Dumfries and Galloway Council - Dumfries High School
Dundee City Council - Proposed new campus to replace Craigie and Braeview High Schools
East Ayrshire Council - Doon Valley Community Campus, Dalmellington
Fife Council - Inverkeithing High School
Glasgow City Council - New city centre primary school
Glasgow City Council - New Gaelic primary school
Highland Council - Broadford Primary School
Highland Council - Nairn Academy
Midlothian Council - Mayfield Primary School Campus
Moray Council - Findrassie Primary School, Elgin
North Ayrshire Council - Montgomerie Park Primary School, Irvine
Perth and Kinross Council - Perth High School
Perth and Kinross Council - Primary School(North Perth)
Renfrewshire Council - Paisley Grammar Community Campus
Scottish Borders Council - Galashiels Academy
South Lanarkshire Council - Newton Farm Primary School extension, Cambuslang
Stirling Council - Callander Primary School
West Dunbartonshire Council - Faifley Campus
West Lothian Council - East Calder Primary School
Which schools will be refurbished?
East Ayrshire Council - St Sophia's Primary School, Galston
Scottish Borders Council - Peebles High School
Midlothian Council - Penicuik High School
Peebles High School was badly damaged by fire in late November last year
The new schools are expected to be "digitally enabled", low-carbon buildings which "meet the needs of the whole community".
Mr Swinney said the programme would also boost the construction industry and create jobs.
The £800m fund comes from phase two of the Learning Estate Investment programme, which is a joint investment programme funded equally by the Scottish government and local authorities.
Eleven schools were on the phase one list, announced in September 2019, including Woodmill High School in Dunfermline, a month after it was destroyed by fire.
'Welcome boost'
Mr Swinney said: "This next phase builds on our commitment and proven track record in replacing schools in the poorest condition so that more children or young people can be educated in high-quality buildings and ensure equity of provision.
"Scotland's construction industry has worked incredibly hard to deal with the many challenges presented by the Covid pandemic. This funding will help the sector, sustaining many jobs and providing a welcome boost to communities across the country.
"Many of the projects will include wider community facilities and integration as part of the new school build or refurbishment.
"These facilities are so much more than just a school where children are educated, they are the centre piece of communities with links to the wider learning estate such as further education facilities and community libraries."
The amount of investment available to each project will not be known until the new year.