Wave 3 Schools

• Our aim for schools
• What is Wave 3?
• Council report - 18 December 2008

Our aim for schools

Artist's impression of a new school

The City of Edinburgh Council wishes to have schools that are fit for purpose for teaching in the 21st century. Over the last 10 years, the Council has invested significantly in its schools estate. Through its first Public Private Partnerships (PPP) project, together with a number of capital projects; over 20 new and refurbished schools have opened in the city in the last few years. A second PPP project will see a further eight new schools open in the next two years.

The council is committed to continuing with this investment and has identified five new schools (the Wave 3 schools) that it would like to replace, dependent upon funding.

What is Wave 3?

Artist's impression of a new school

Wave 3 aims to deliver inspirational school buildings that are:

• Effective places for learning
• Versatile and adaptable
• Responsive to the forefront of educational developments such as Curriculum for Excellence
• Supportive of a range of activities associated with the learning process
• Capable of creating a greater range of pupil experiences and pupil choice

For more information, see the Wave 3 Business Case report (Word).

Council report - 18 December

A progress report (PDF, 2MB) on the Wave 3 Project will go to the Council meeting on 18 December. 

This report recommends that, subject to additional funding being confirmed in the February budget process, Portobello High School is progressed as the first new school. A further report to the Children and Families Committee in March will consider whether the new school should have space for 1200 or 1400 pupils.

The report includes information on the suitability and condition surveys which form part of the phasing approach for the Wave 3 Project.

Consultation update

Information is also provided on the outcome of the recent consultations with the Boroughmuir and St John's school communities.

Since the majority of Boroughmuir parents preferred a refurbishment of the existing school and this option will cost significantly less than a new school at Fairmilehead, it has been agreed that refurbishment of the existing school will be progressed when funds are available.

The school community at St John’s were also consulted on their preferred option (refurbishment or new build). Although parents were in favour of a refurbishment, the Children and Families Department have delayed a decision as the benefits of a new build have not been fully evaluated in the light of the opportunities demonstrated by recently completed new buildings.