Delivery of a new grammar school for Campbeltown took another major step forward today (Thursday 24 April) when Argyll and Bute  Council confirmed £40 million council investment in the project over 25 years.

A new school with capacity for up to 500 pupils is expected to be delivered before March 2018.

Councillor Aileen Morton, the council’s Policy Lead for Education and Lifelong Learning said, “Our focus is on providing children and young people in Campbeltown with the best possible school. The council is dedicating a considerable amount of funding to delivering a high quality school that will best meet the needs of local young people into the foreseeable future. Our priority now is to secure additional external funding for Campbeltown and progress this initiative for the benefit of our present and future students.”

The capacity of the new school allows for an increasing number of pupils, based on school roll forecasts and local development plan actions for the next 10 years.

Councillor Dick Walsh, Leader of the Council explained that capacity was agreed on the best, reliable information available in terms of increasing future demand. He said, “Securing a prosperous future for Argyll and Bute means progressing all ambitions for our area as set out in our Single Outcome Agreement. Giving our young people the best possible start in life is one ambition, and delivering a high quality new school for Campbeltown will be an important step in this. At the same time we will continue to work with our partners to progress all other pressing priorities, for the benefit of communities in Campbeltown and across Argyll and Bute.”

The New Project Request (NPR) will now be submitted to the Scottish Futures Trust which signals the start of the design process. An NPR will also be submitted for a new school for Oban.