FIONA HYSLOP MSP TO OPEN SANDERSON’S WYND PRIMARY SCHOOL, TRANENT ON WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2008

Sanderson’s Wynd, Tranent’s newest primary school, will be formally opened by Fiona Hsylop Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on Wednesday 12 November 2008 at 9.30am.

Fiona Waddell, Sanderson’s Wynd’s head teacher, says that she is absolutely delighted with the new premises with its 12 classrooms, two specialist activity rooms, a nursery unit and provision for 15 children with additional support needs in The Hub. She says:

‘It’s more than just a school – it’s a real community base. Home-Start and Children 1st are working out of the school and East Lothian’s Community learning team also have a base here. We are trying to provide joined-up services for our community, for example, wrap-around care, which we provide through the nursery, after-school club and playgroup.’

She is also very enthusiastic about the range of eco-friendly features in the new school, including automatic lighting that reacts to the amount of daylight in the room and switches itself off when there is no one there, a windmill and solar panels on the roof to provide some of the school’s electricity, and a panel in the school hall to show children how much energy they are generating at any one time. Other environmentally friendly features include recycling rainwater from the roof to flush the school’s toilets. Any extra rainwater will go into the school’s pond and aquatic garden.

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, says:

‘Sanderson’s Wynd Primary is an excellent example of the work that can be done in combining the needs of teachers and pupils with easing demands on the environment. It is one of the first in a new generation of low-energy schools which is leading the way in school design.’

Education and Children’s Services Convener Peter MacKenzie adds:

‘I am very impressed with the new facilities, which demonstrate East Lothian Council’s commitment to communities and sustainability. I think Sanderson’s Wynd provides an ideal learning and teaching environment, and a fine community resource.’

ENDS

Issued by Jane Ogden-Smith, Public Information Officer, Education and Children’s Services on Tuesday 11 November 2008 Phone: 01620 827199/07990 540 738/e-mail: jogden-smith@eastlothian.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The new school has 12 classrooms, general purpose rooms, large drama and dance area, large hall with community changing facilities, dining and kitchen with after-school club accommodation, a nursery for 50 children, early years and crèche and extensive accommodation for 24 children with severe and complex needs all arranged around a large courtyard. The existing school will be demolished and the area reconstructed with playing fields. Rainwater is harvested from the roof for flushing toilets and children can monitor this from a display panel within the school. There are 2 small roof-mounted wind generators largely for education purpose. Solar panels contribute to the energy demand for water heating.

2. The value of the construction is c. £9.6m

3. Dev Contribution from Persimmon and Elder Street of c.£105K

4. The current school roll (not including the 50 nursery places and 24 places in The Hub) – 318

5. The school's capacity – 360

6. The number of staff – 58

7. Background to school development programme in Tranent

8. Overall investment programme for Tranent. With a population of only 9,000, Tranent in East Lothian is attracting record investment from its local authority. Approval was given 30 January 2007 to a £10m contract to build a second new primary school for the town (Sanderson’s Wynd – other new school is Windygoul Primary, opened by Alec Salmond last November). More than £20m will has been spent on education and community facilities in Tranent in last three years.

East Lothian is one of the fastest growing areas in Scotland and in recent years Tranent has expanded with a number of new housing developments already built and occupied and more planned. Staff from the Depatment of Education and Children’s Services and local members have worked with parents since 2001 to deliver two separate P1-P7 schools which involved changes to primary school catchment areas. These new school catchment areas became operational in August 2007. Prior to these changes primary school provision in town consisted of a primary school for primary 4 to p7 pupils, a separate nursery and infant school and a RC primary school - a mixture of buildings including 1920s and 1960s build. The new school configuration will help reduce cross-town travel and hence air pollution.