It’s a family affair as Glasgow’s newest school opens – at a cost of £11.5 million.
Crumbling Garrowhill Primary School has been replaced with a state-of-the-art new building. And it was a real community effort as local parents were involved in the build, including dad Scott Stewart. Mr Stewart is Senior Electrical Contracts Manager for City Building, which ran the project, and oversaw the electrical work in the school. His two daughters, Aimee and Nicole, are in primary two and primary five.
Head teacher Linda Logue said: “We actually had quite a few parents involved in the building of our new school but Mr Stewart oversaw the electrical installations and works in the school.”
Pupils moved into the east end school, which Mrs Logue said is “night and day” from the old building, last week. Instead of drafty corridors and leaking windows, youngsters have an environmentally friendly new school that is inspiring them to learn.
Mrs Logue added: “The way the school is designed, teachers can now work in a cluster.
“The old school had long, narrow corridors that were quite dark and drafty windows that allowed wind to blow in to the school. The way the school was laid out meant that it was difficult to get a sense of team working but that has changed immediately with our new building, you don’t feel that anymore.
“As soon as you walk in you can get the sense that everyone is working together, the atmosphere is better and the pupils are happier.
“It is night and day compared to our old school. The design is great. The classrooms are in clusters of four and five with open areas where children can mingle and work together, spill out and play together and share things.”
Some 17 classrooms give Garrowhill Primary a capacity of 450 pupils, which Mrs Logue believes it will reach in the coming years.
At the moment, there are 385 youngsters in the new schools, which is made up of library; assembly and drama room; gym hall; three large shared teaching spaces and three outdoor covered play areas.
The Early Years Centre has a nursery play space; toddlers play space; a social space away from the playrooms; an external play space and a covered external play space.
The design of the building is aimed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible with underfloor heating, which is more energy efficient than radiators, a ventilation system that uses fresh air to cut down on traffic noise, and ground source heat pumps that extract heat from below the school grounds using boreholes.
Rainwater is also collected and used in the school water system.
Pupils are encouraged to cycle to school and the building is designed to face a nearby park to let light in and allow children to feel connected to the outdoors.
Garrowhill also has new outdoor facilities on the way with an all-weather, floodlit 3G pitch being built.
The former primary school’s outdoor classroom will be moved over to the new site in the coming months.
There is a woodland space for outdoor teaching.
Mrs Logue added: “”The atmosphere is just delightful. I can’t really explain it but there’s a wonderful team spirit, the children are motivated and happy to be here and the teachers are happy to be at their work.
“The children’s motivation has increased 10-fold.
“We also know that we are very lucky. This is what you would want for all children in the city, though not all children have these facilities.
“The opportunities are tremendous. We are really aware that having this new school is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are determined to make it the very best it can be.”
Councillor Stephen Curran, executive member for education and young people, said: “This is an amazing new school campus and I know that the staff and pupils will be very happy in their new learning environment fit for the 21st century.
“The council has committed millions of pounds over the last 10 years rebuilding and refurbishing nurseries and primary schools across the city to give our children the very best possible start to their education.
“Garrowhill school campus will become an important community hub and I wish the many generations of pupils and staff who will learn there my very best wishes.”
(From Evening Times)
It€™s a family affair as Glasgow€™s newest school opens €“ at a cost of £11.5 million
Crumbling Garrowhill Primary School has been replaced with a state-of-the-art new building.
And it was a real community effort as local parents were involved in the build, including dad Scott Stewart.
Mr Stewart is Senior Electrical Contracts Manager for City Building, which ran the project, and oversaw the electrical work in the school.
His two daughters, Aimee and Nicole, are in primary two and primary five.
Head teacher Linda Logue said: “”We actually had quite a few parents involved in the building of our new school but Mr Stewart oversaw the electrical installations and works in the school.””
Pupils moved into the east end school, which Mrs Logue said is “”night and day”” from the old building, last week.
Instead of drafty corridors and leaking windows, youngsters have an environmentally friendly new school that is inspiring them to learn.
Mrs Logue added: “”The way the school is designed, teachers can now work in a cluster.
“”The old school had long, narrow corridors that were quite dark and drafty windows that allowed wind to blow in to the school.
“”The way the school was laid out meant that it was difficult to get a sense of team working but that has changed immediately with our new building, you don’t feel that anymore.
“”As soon as you walk in you can get the sense that everyone is working together, the atmosphere is better and the pupils are happier.
“”It is night and day compared to our old school.
“”The design is great. The classrooms are in clusters of four and five with open areas where children can mingle and work together, spill out and play together and share things.””
Some 17 classrooms give Garrowhill Primary a capacity of 450 pupils, which Mrs Logue believes it will reach in the coming years.
At the moment, there are 385 youngsters in the new schools, which is made up of library; assembly and drama room; gym hall; three large shared teaching spaces and three outdoor covered play areas.
The Early Years Centre has a nursery play space; toddlers play space; a social space away from the playrooms; an external play space and a covered external play space.
The design of the building is aimed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible with underfloor heating, which is more energy efficient than radiators, a ventilation system that uses fresh air to cut down on traffic noise, and ground source heat pumps that extract heat from below the school grounds using boreholes.
Rainwater is also collected and used in the school water system.
Pupils are encouraged to cycle to school and the building is designed to face a nearby park to let light in and allow children to feel connected to the outdoors.
Garrowhill also has new outdoor facilities on the way with an all-weather, floodlit 3G pitch being built.
The former primary school’s outdoor classroom will be moved over to the new site in the coming months.
There is a woodland space for outdoor teaching.
Mrs Logue added: “”The atmosphere is just delightful. I can’t really explain it but there’s a wonderful team spirit, the children are motivated and happy to be here and the teachers are happy to be at their work.
“”The children’s motivation has increased 10-fold.
“”We also know that we are very lucky. This is what you would want for all children in the city, though not all children have these facilities.
“”The opportunities are tremendous. We are really aware that having this new school is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are determined to make it the very best it can be.””
Councillor Stephen Curran, executive member for education and young people, said: €œThis is an amazing new school campus and I know that the staff and pupils will be very happy in their new learning environment fit for the 21st century.
€œThe council has committed millions of pounds over the last 10 years rebuilding and refurbishing nurseries and primary schools across the city to give our children the very best possible start to their education.
€œGarrowhill school campus will become an important community hub and I wish the many generations of pupils and staff who will learn there my very best wishes.€
(From Evening Times)
