The headteacher of Kinross High School has hailed the educational potential of a planned Disney-style space centre in the town.
The Aero Space Scientific Educational Trust hope that their plans for Aero Space Kinross, which will focus on aviation and space flight, could attract more than 50,000 people a year.
Aero Space Kinross could include a fully-immersive 3D planetarium, a flight motion simulation, lecture theatre and an exhibition telling the story of flight, astronomy and space exploration.
Kinross High headteacher Sarah Brown believes that Aero Space Kinross could be used by her pupils and the school’s feeder primaries, as well as provide work experience, volunteering and job opportunities for Kinross High School students.
Mrs Brown said: “Kinross High School supports and believes that Aero Space Kinross is an important and valuable resource within walking distance for use by the school community.
“Pupils studying computing would benefit from the opportunity to work with Aero Space Kinross in designing and developing information systems for a range of visitor attractions – from flight motion simulations to interactive games.
“Our advanced higher pupils may be given the opportunity to work with university students to develop a fully immersive 3D planetarium. This planetarium could then be used as a stunning learning experience to educate pupils studying physics about the solar system or space exploration.”
Research has identified a target market that includes 2.75 million people living within one hour’s drive of Kinross, schools across the region and corporate events, exhibitions, gala dinners and private parties.
Mrs Brown believes the proposed space centre would provide benefits to her students throughout the school year.
She continued: “Physics, astronomy and mathematics workshops, science shows and hands on exhibits across a range of subjects could be provided in the lecture theatre throughout the academic year to engage all year groups.
“Business education pupils would experience all aspects of running a successful social enterprise venture from marketing campaigns to human resources.
“We also believe that its proposed use as a community space, heritage hub and a centre for education is a worthwhile project, which would provide an excellent national focus for Kinross’ history.”
An Aero Space Scientific Educational Trust spokesperson said: “Community support is vital to us in our bid to secure funding and we are thrilled to have received a glowing letter of support from our local high school.”