A £100 million wish list has been unveiled by Perth and Kinross Council as it bids to deliver a new generation of schools.
A host of projects is already under way as the local authority attempts to ensure quality teaching facilities in every community.
The plans will take shape over the next seven years to deal with a growing number of pupils and deteriorating schools.
The region’s long-held position as Scotland’s fastest-growing local authority area shows no sign of slipping, with new developments and housing expansions leading to a need for more classroom space.
In some areas, such as Luncarty and Inchture, proposals for new housebuilding and projected population increases have had to be factored into future plans.
Six new community campuses have already been created over the past decade through the council’s hugely ambitious £136 million Investment in Learning programme. They have created hubs that now provide state-of-the-art facilities for sports, recreation, concerts and events, as well as schooling.
That is only the beginning, however, and a wealth of new projects across the region include new primary schools, extensions and sports complexes.
The latest developments were outlined at a meeting of the council’s lifelong learning school estate sub-committee.
Former teacher and education convener Barbara Vaughan told The Courier: “I think our projects are progressing very well. It is vitally important that we keep the school estate as fresh as possible and the need to upgrade and introduce new schools is a recurring theme.
“The council will be opening a number of new schools, as we remain one of the few councils likely to see a significant increase in population. This area already boasts a very high standard of education, but, as I always say, we cannot be complacent.
“Buildings alone don’t make for good education you need good staff, too but they do boost the learning experience and they also help to attract good staff to Perth and Kinross.”
The creation of a new £22m “all-through” campus on the western edge of Perth remains a priority, with Bertha Park long identified as the preferred location.
Its development is, however, proving complex, with numerous issues taxing the council, including its design, the need for a catchment area and a heavy dependency on having infrastructure in place such as the new A9/A85 junction to deliver access to the campus.
The school will also be the subject of a full consultation process, with some councillors and residents championing sites in Strathearn and the Carse of Gowrie.
That will, inevitably, be a long and drawn-out process, but it is hoped the consultation will be concluded by 2015, well in advance of a 2017/18 funding deadline.
Another priority is the creation of the new Crieff Primary School at a cost of more than £14m, with details of the development set to be finalised by August.
Meanwhile, Alyth Primary School has been identified as having the highest maintenance requirement of any primary in Perth and Kinross and will be replaced at a cost of £8.8m, while work is already under way to replace Invergowrie Primary.
A massive programme of upgrades is also taking shape, with additional teaching space and sports facilities being created at a string of schools.
The £5m modernisation of Abernethy Primary School is now complete, and new classrooms are to be created at Inchture and Glenlyon, with new sporting facilities taking shape at Perth Academy, Perth High and Perth Grammar.