New Edinburgh primary school will not be ready for new term after summer

A “first of its kind” Edinburgh primary will not be ready in time for the new term after summer, with pupils set to spend their first few months in a different school.

Originally planned to open in August, Maybury Primary is now not expected to welcome its first P1 intake until October.

However the council says this could present a “great opportunity” to build links with East Craigs Primary where learners will be based initially while work is completed.

Also incorporating an NHS GP surgery for up to 10,000 patients, the new building is being touted as a multi-purpose community asset comprising a range of services and activities.

To reflect this, councillors will be asked to officially name it “Maybury Community Hub” – as opposed to Maybury Primary School which it has been called throughout the design and development process – at a meeting next week.

Both the first Edinburgh school to share a campus with a medical practice and the first built to the ultra-energy efficient Passivhaus standard, the council says Maybury will be a model for the future as it looks to maximise the use of its buildings and allow residents to access services close to where they live in line with the “20 minute neighbourhood” strategy.

The 630-pupil school and GP surgery will share a main entrance, although pupils will enter through a separate door. It has been built to serve hundreds of new homes being constructed at West Craigs and Cammo.

A report, going to the education, children and families committee on Tuesday, April 16, said: “The new primary school will accept its first P1 intake in August 2024. However, the new school building will not be ready for use until October 2024.

Accordingly, pupils due to attend the new school will be based with their teachers and staff from the new school in East Craigs Primary School for their first term.

“This arrangement provides a great opportunity to build strong links between the two schools and develop cluster working which will be valuable in developing collaborative working between staff and sharing of resources.”

Education convener Joan Griffiths said: “I think community hubs are the way to go, schools shouldn’t be seen as a standalone – somewhere you go into and then come out at half past three and not used again – they should be seen very much as part of the community and I’m really pleased there’s going to be an NHS medical centre in this hub. It’s encouraging people to go in and use the facilities and I just think it is the way forward.

“It’s also about maximising resources, about bringing things together – making best use of resourced instead of having smaller buildings all over the place using up extra heating, extra lighting. I’m really excited about it.”