East Lothian Courier | News | School delay will bring disruption

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 29th May, 2008 08:05

School delay will bring disruption

TRANENT pupils are facing midterm disruption as a result of a two-week delay in the construction of the new £10 million primary school at Sanderson’s Wynd.

Pupils at Sanderson’s Wynd Primary School will be forced to return to their current building when the new term starts on August 18.

It will be September 1 before they move in to the new school, to the east of the school playing fields.

At last Tuesday’s meeting of the town’s community council, Fa’side councillor Donald Grant said: “The school was supposed to be ready for the new term but there was a two week delay in getting started, which was not the fault of the contractors.”

“It was due to the initial groundwork that had to be carried out to stabilise the ground before Hart Builders Ltd began their work.”

Community council vice-chairman Joan Ramsay replied: “From a management point of view, is that not absolutely horrendous?”

Secretary Robert McNeill added that it would be a “nightmare” for teachers.

Mr Grant told members that Sanderson’s Wynd’s Parent Council had “accepted” the situation. “It’s not perfect by any manner of means,” he admitted.

Staff and pupils will be allowed access to certain facilities – such as the gym – between August 25 and 29 – the Courier has learned.

Headteacher Fiona Waddell explained: “We were initially disappointed that we weren’t going to be in the new school for the start of term.

“The new school is looking fantastic.”

She added that an application had been lodged with the Scottish Government to close the school for a day and a half – to allow for equipment to be moved from the old school building.

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