First Minister, Jack McConnell, praised East Lothian Council for the ‘innovative PPP schools projects which is one of the best examples in Scotland’ during his visit to Knox Academy. Mr McConnell was invited to help mark the completion of the major construction phase of the £43 million project by ‘rededicating Knox Academy as a Centre of Educational Excellence’ at a special event attended by Councillors, council officials, school board members, representatives from the local community and Knox Academy staff and pupils.

Provost Pat O’Brien said: “We are absolutely delighted that the First Minister took time out of his busy schedule to visit East Lothian and to see at first hand the new facilities available at our secondary schools. Education is a priority for East Lothian Council and we wanted to provide facilities that would also offer all of our youngsters some of the best possible opportunities for sport, culture and art. Through the PPP project we have made an investment of £43 million pounds into our secondary schools. This is an investment into our future, our children’s future and their children’s future. It is something which I am very proud of.”

As an former Maths teacher, Mr McConnell was particularly interested in seeing the developments in Knox Academy’s maths dept which includes interactive white boards which are connected to a PC. Lessons can then be downloaded and saved on computer. The First Minister also visited the new Games Hall, met pupils involved in a Question Time production and enjoyed hearing about an enterprise project at the school.

Knox Academy was one of six similar events held across the county on Monday 12 June. Anne Moffat MP visited Ross High School, Council Leader Norman Murray attended the rededication event at Musselburgh Grammar, Provost Pat O’Brien joined pupils and staff at Preston Lodge High School, John Home Robertson MSP was at Dunbar Grammar whilst Depute Provost David Costello visited North Berwick High School.