New school and nursery is for whole community
Dignitaries gathered in Cowie last week for the official opening of St Margaret’s Primary’s new £6.4 million school and nursery.
Construction began in July, 2015, and the school opened at the start of the current academic term.
St Margaret’s 215 pupils are now learning in a school with seven classrooms plus a general purpose room, dining room, and hall space. Its cost was shared equally between Stirling Council and Scottish Government’s Schools For the Future programme.
Cowie Nursery – with a capacity of up to 85 children – is in the same building as the new school but is an independent facility providing care for youngsters aged up to five.
The school now includes flexible playrooms that can be opened up to create large spaces or closed down to reduce the space, plus a nurture room, parent’s room and direct access to outside play areas off playrooms.
There are also a number of facilities for use by the wider public, including a sports changing area and community hall.
Speaking at the official opening, Stirling Council leader Johanna Boyd said:“We and the contractors have produced a school and nursery which will create long-lasting benefits for the entire community.
“We are creating an environment in which young people can experience new and exciting learning opportunities.’’
Bannockburn ward councillor Alasdair MacPherson added:“This was an historic occasion for Cowie and something myself and the SNP council group worked hard to promote for many years.”
St Margaret’s Primary’s former premises in McSherry Court was built in 1915 and extended in 1961. The school and nursery were identified as priorities for investment by the council’s education committee in 2010.
Project planning started in 2013 and villagers were asked for their view on three possible locations. Land at Berryhills was overwhelmingly chosen as the favoured site for its accessible location in the heart of the community and adjoining external space.
The blueprint for the scheme was then developed in consultation with the community and the project got underway with designers AHR architects and builders, Robertson Construction.
About 90 per cent of construction work was undertaken by trades personnel from the area and the project created nine work placements and 12 apprenticeships.