This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Praise for PPP projects
11/12/2006
The National School Building Programme, including Public Private Partnerships (PPP), is delivering tangible and immediate benefits for Scotland's schools, First Minister Jack McConnell said today as he officially opened the new Williamwood High School in East Renfrewshire.
The new school building is part of a £2.3 billion Scotland-wide programme of investment through PPP.
Mr McConnell said:
"This new modern High School provides state-of-the-art facilities for pupils and staff.
"Scotland has a high quality education system, but if we are to raise standards even higher we need excellent school facilities such as these.
"PPP is delivering such facilities. Without PPP, schools would decline and children would suffer.
"As a former teacher, I know the importance of school facilities like this. They motivate pupils to do well, and create a better educational environment for our young people.
"The largest school building programme in this country's history is one of the real achievements of devolution and our government remains absolutely committed to it.
"The investment here in East Renfrewshire, and across Scotland, will benefit not just the young people studying today but the next generation of young Scots learners for many years to come."
The new Williamwood building is one of four schools in East Renfrewshire's £63 million secondary schools PPP project affecting almost 4,000 pupils. Another 2,500 pupils are being educated in two schools which were in the Council's first PPP.
Further major investment in school buildings is being made through the Schools Fund capital grant - £151.35 million this year - and from other resources available to authorities, principally through their own borrowing.
Under PPP some 110 schools across Scotland have been either rebuilt or refurbished so far, providing some 100,000 pupils with modern learning environments.
Williamwood High School currently has a roll of around 1370 pupils and around 110 teachers.