30-08-2016

St Margaret’s Primary School and Cowie Nursery Open

  Local residents in Cowie recently attended a Community Open Day to see the new, custom-built, St Margaret’s Primary School and Cowie Nursery after hub East Central Scotland handed over the building in August. St Margaret’s Primary School was identified as a priority for investment by Stirling Council’s Education Committee in 2010. Project planning started in 2013, which involved consultation with the local community, who were asked for their view on three alternative locations in Cowie. The scope of the project was extended to include Cowie Nursery, replacing the existing nursery class for three to five year olds with a facility that can provide for up to 85 children from 0 to five years, hugely increasing early years facilities in Cowie. While the new Cowie Nursery will be in the same building as the new St Margaret’s Primary School, it will be a stand-alone, independent facility that will provide nursery care for all children aged 0-5 years within the area. In addition to the primary school and nursery, there are also a number of facilities within the building that can be utilised by the local community, including sports changing facilities and flexible community hall space. Education Convenor Alistair Berrill said: “I was enormously impressed when I was shown round this fantastic new building. Stirling Council team and the contractors have produced a wonderful new school and nursery, and the parents and children at the open day all seemed to be delighted.” Robertson Construction began building the new facility in July 2015 and the official handover of the premises took place on the 9^th August 2016. The school opened on Thursday 25^th August 2016 in time for the new academic term. Gary Bushnell, Chief Executive of hub East Central Scotland Ltd said: “We worked closely with Stirling Council to manage the project to completion and hand over a high quality school building that meets the long term needs of children, teachers and the wider community.  This project delivered a significant number of community benefits including 89% of the work delivered by local people, as well as the creation of 9 work placements and 12 apprenticeships.” David Cairns, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction, said: “This has been an ambitious construction project and one which we were proud to deliver to the highest specification. It is exciting to see the new school and nursery ready to welcome its first pupils, and I’m sure this will prove to be a fantastic facility for the young children who attend.”