Primary school in Falkirk to partly reopen after building issues uncovered by Storm Eowyn

Parts of Maddiston Primary School campus will be back in use for the new term although the main building will not reopen until August 2026.

The school closed in February after damage caused by Storm Eowyn revealed significant construction problems throughout the 17-year-old building, caused by mortar that was “significantly deficient.”

As the scale of the defects became clear, the decision was taken in February to shut the building and decant around 500 pupils to three primary schools across the district.

Falkirk Council’s director of education, Jon Reid, wrote to all parents and carers this week to tell them the arrangements for the school year starting in August.

He said the school will be able to use the new extension and existing modular units, which have been unaffected by the construction defects found throughout the main school.

In his letter, Reid confirmed that the school would not reopen until at least August 2026.

He said: “This is clearly disappointing news, but it is essential that the building meets all necessary building standards before staff and pupils return.”

The letter also confirms that Maddiston Community Centre will be used for PE and lunch arrangements.

The extension will accommodate three Primary 1 classes and two Primary 2 classes, while one P2/3 class and two Primary 3 classes will be in the Modular Units.

Primaries 4 and 5 will go to Wallacestone Primary, and Primary 6 and 7 will be in Bantaskin Primary.

The Timezone and Inclusion class pupils will continue to attend Moray Primary and Carrongrange High School.

Reid said the arrangements “allow us to make the best use of available facilities across our school estate, scale back the transport arrangements in place and ensure a stable and high-quality experience for all pupils and staff while working toward a full return to Maddiston.”

A report going to Falkirk Council’s executive on June 19 revealed that the mortar used in the construction was “significantly deficient, providing inadequate bonding to the surrounding stone”.

The cost is estimated to be around £5m, and the work will likely take at least a year.