NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday announced details of the first new schools to be built as part of a £1 billion investment programme.

The plans were revealed at the same time as new figures showed that

more than 900 schools have been built or refurbished since the SNP came to power. A total of 928 schools across the country have been built or substantially refurbished since 2007-08, including 81 in the last year.

The First Minister hailed this figure as “great progress”, but added there is “still more to do”.

She spoke out as new figures showed 88.3% of schools were in good or satisfactory condition in April 2019 – with 266,569 students taught in buildings classed as “good” and another 347,374 in facilities that are “satisfactory”.

Meanwhile 11.4% of schools were classed as “poor”, while just 0.2% were “bad” – with 69,536 and 1046 children taught in these respectively.

The Scottish Government will spend between £220 million and £275m on the first phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme, which will see 26 schools replaced. The new buildings could open by 2022-23, the Government said.

A replacement for Woodmill High School in Dunfermline, which was badly damaged by fire last month, is included, with the new site taking the form of a community campus which will also include St Columba’s High School.

Sturgeon said about 50,000 students across Scotland would benefit from the first phase of work, with schools to be modernised and upgraded in 11 council areas. She said: “This investment builds on the progress we have made over the last 10 years. The National Statistics published that, even before this announcement, Scotland’s school estate has never been in better condition, with a record percentage in good or satisfactory condition. That is a result of sustained investment and we will now build on that.

“Modern, state-of-the-art buildings can make a real difference to the lives of pupils, teachers and parents, as well as the wider communities they serve. This investment continues our efforts to improve the condition of our learning estate, from early years through to schools and colleges.”

Sturgeon announced the first phase of the school building programme during a trip to Peterhead Academy, accompanied by Education Secretary John Swinney. Several of the projects planned will bring together nurseries, schools and specialist centres for children with additional support needs in multi-purpose campuses for youngsters from the age of three through to 18. Councillor Gail Macgregor, of

local government body Cosla, said councils would be contributing at least £2bn to the programme overall. She added: “The joint investment that councils will make with the Scottish Government in Scotland’s schools over the course of this strategy will improve the learning environments of thousands of children and young people across the country.”

In the first phase of the programme, a new Peterhead Community Campus will be built in Aberdeenshire; in East Lothian, a new Wallyford High School and Whitecraig Primary School will be built; and in East Renfrewshire, Neilston Primary and St Thomas’s Primary will be replaced.

Edinburgh will get a new Currie Community High and a new Castlebay Campus is planned for Barra. A new campus in the Highlands will replace Tain Royal Academy and three primaries while Midlothian will get a replacement for Beeslack Community High School. In North Ayrshire, there will be a new Ardrossan Community Learning and Innovation Hub and in South Ayrshire a Maybole Community Campus. In West Lothian, a new Beatlie Additional Support Needs Campus will be built.