A report presented to members of West Dunbartonshire Council’s educational services committee detailed plans to construct the £28.86 million Faifley Campus which will incorporate St Joseph’s Primary co-located with Edinbarnet Primary; an Education Resource Centre; Auchnacraig and Lennox Early Learning and Childcare Centres; an additional support needs base; a community library and community space.

Members heard the St Joseph’s site was most suitable for the new campus as it provides the opportunity to carry out a tandem build without disrupting the education of pupils on site. St Joseph’s Primary is accessed directly from Faifley Road with good public transport links and safe footpaths which would encourage families to walk to school, and these factors were considered in the site selection. In addition the site is close to the nearby religious church.

The new campus will also have an external state of the art Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) for outdoor sports to enhance opportunities for physical activity among the pupils.

Further engagement will take place with the community with a Statutory Consultation being prepared and brought to the Education committee meeting in September.

Convener of educational services, Councillor Karen Conaghan, said: “I am delighted to see the plans for the new campus taking a step forward. This campus will see hundreds of children move into new buildings designed for them to learn and grow in a modern learning environment fit for 21st century education.  I want to ensure we work with all departments to maximize the benefits to the community and in addition ensure we provide safe roads and footpaths to encourage pupils to walk to school. Along with the new schools and early learning centre, we have included in our plans a new library and community space, which will be available for use by residents.”

Councillor Ian Dickson, vice convener of educational services, said: “I know this plan will be welcomed by parents, carers and pupils across Faifley as well as all of the residents who will benefit from the community space within the new facility.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave their views on the location of the new campus during the engagement sessions. Your feedback was very clear, everyone agrees and supports the building of this new campus in Faifley which will be an asset to the whole community.”