A North Lanarkshire councillor has hit out at the Scottish Government over the condition of a number of primary schools in the Wishaw area.
The annual Scottish Government, School Estate, publication for 2022 has highlighted that 20 per cent of primary schools in the local authority area were officially rated as in poor condition when last assessed. Schools are ranked in one of four categories; Good, Satisfactory, Poor or Bad.
Over 90 per cent of schools across the country were considered to be in good or satisfactory condition as of April this year, according to the report. That’s up from 84 per cent in April 2016.
North Lanarkshire had the second highest number of schools in poor condition of all 32 Scottish councils, despite having the sixth highest total number of primary schools (119).
Of the 119 primary schools in the local authority area 35 were in good condition with 59 being satisfactory, while 25 were in poor condition but none in bad condition.
To be graded as poor the state of a school’s fabric has to be showing major defects and/or is not operating adequately.
Inspections are carried out to provide information information on the physical, mechanical and electrical condition of the schools.
Five of those in a poor condition were in Wishaw, including Berryhill Primary in Craigneuk – the ward Councillor Nathan Wilson represents. The school was last inspected in March 2019.
Councillor Wilson says it is unacceptable that a large proportion of local school buildings in North Lanarkshire were recorded as being in a sub-optimal condition when last surveyed.
In addition to Berryhill Primary, Morningside, Newmains, St Aidan’s and St Thomas’ primaries in Wishaw were all rated in poor condition. Newmains is due to close its gates for the final time later this year.
Allanton, St Mary’s and Cleland primaries were all also rated in poor condition. However, Allanton was closed in October 2021 and pupils moved elsewhere to allow essential structural repairs to take place and has since been refurbished.
The Conservative councillor for Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig, said: “It is a serious concern that the condition of 25 primaries in North Lanarkshire is officially recorded as poor in the latest school estate publication.
“For the past 15 years, the overall responsibility for education matters in Scotland has rested with the SNP and the data highlights that large parts of the primary school estate in North Lanarkshire has clearly not been fit for purpose on their watch.
“It is a major frustration that Berryhill was graded as poor during the most recent survey and local children in Craigneuk should be able to spend the entirety of their primary school education in a building that is free from serious defects.
“The official data demonstrates that this has plainly not been the case at all times in recent years.
“Children in Craigneuk and across North Lanarkshire deserve much better.”
The Scottish Government told Lanarkshire Live that North Lanarkshire Council were awarded £55m towards the building of three new schools in recent years, and have until the end of the month to put forward priority projects to be considered for the latest round of investment.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government’s School Estates Survey – published earlier this month – revealed that a record number of school buildings are in good or satisfactory condition across Scotland.
“Councils are responsible for managing and mainstreaming their school estate.
“Through our previous school building programme – Scotland’s Schools for the Future – the Scottish Government awarded North Lanarkshire Council with £55m towards the construction of their three priority projects at that time to assist them with that responsibility.
“In addition, our £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme further will benefit around 50,000 pupils across Scotland.
“Local authorities, including North Lanarkshire Council, have been invited to put forward their priority projects for investment by 31 October for the latest phase of investment.”
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