Whitecraig Primary School’s children held a special assembly for invited guests to officially open their new building.
Members of the teams who had designed and delivered the project joined school staff, elected members, MP Douglas Alexander and representatives from the community to celebrate, with children performing a special poem written for the occasion. The school’s newly-chosen House Captains and Vice Captains took part in a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the front entrance.
Growing school age population
The new Whitecraig Primary was built to accommodate a growing population from ongoing housebuilding in the area. It opened to children on 7 January having received funding from phase one of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme and contributions from housing developers working locally.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, who was due to visit, was unable to attend due to parliamentary basis but recorded a video message to the children. In it he said:
“Education helps us understand who we are, and it helps us to get to where we want to be in life. It’s also one of the best investments we can make in Scotland’s future. That’s why my government is proud to support our schools and the school estate.
“Back in 2019, when I was Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, I launched the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme, so it’s a real pleasure to see some of that investment put to such good use here in Whitecraig. These facilities are fantastic, they support the growth we’ve seen across East Lothian, and they’ve been designed with real care.”
Significant investment
Since moving in January, children and staff have been enjoying getting to know the new school spaces.
Whitecraig Primary School Head Teacher Viv Short said: “The new Whitecraig Primary School building stands as a significant investment in our children and our community. It provides a high‑quality learning environment where our values of honesty, kindness and respect are lived every day. Our pupils are immensely proud of their school, and this new building reflects their aspirations, supports their growth, and strengthens the heart of Whitecraig for years to come.”
Beautiful spaces for teaching and learning
East Lothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s and Family Services Councillor Fiona Dugdale said: “We are very proud of Whitecraig Primary School and all that our teams have achieved to deliver it. They have created beautiful spaces for teaching and learning that will benefit the whole community. Whitecraig Primary’s children were excited to showcase their new school to our invited guests and were the perfect ambassadors, demonstrating their school’s values to everyone.”
