New Beatlie School Praised

The superb new Beatlie School Campus in Livingston is already making a positive difference for West Lothian young people.

Pupils were welcomed to the new state-of-the-art campus in Craigshill from Tuesday 15 August, which provides specialist education for those aged three to eighteen with severe and complex support and profound medical needs.

The new £15.7 million school serves as a centre of excellence for children and young people, with purpose-built facilities including a sensory garden, hydrotherapy pool and NHS Child Development Centre.

West Lothian’s Executive councillor for education Andrew McGuire recently visited the school to see how the cutting-edge facilities were benefiting pupils and staff.

Cllr McGuire said: “It’s fantastic to see the wonderful new Beatlie School Campus already helping support our staff to deliver the highest possible standards of education and care for pupils.

“While council resources are limited and under more pressure than ever, we have prioritised investment in education to ensure our young people have the best possible platform for learning.

“Along with a new Cedarbank School in Livingston and an extension to Pinewood School in Blackburn, we aim to ensure that West Lothian’s schools for children with additional support needs are a top priority.

Acting Beatlie Headteacher Debbie Green added: “We are delighted to be in our new school, and making good use of the new and improved facilities it provides.

“All our young people have settled in well to the new environment, which will allow us to better meet their needs during their years with us.”

The project is part of a huge investment in schools for pupils with additional support needs, which also includes a new £7.5 million Cedarbank School in and a £5.8 million redevelopment of the Pinewood School in Blackburn which were completed last year.

The project was delivered with West Lothian Council through Hub South East, with Morrison Construction appointed as the Tier 1 contractor – the same team that successfully delivered the award-winning West Calder High School, Calderwood Primary School and the Winchburgh Campus.

Eileen Mackin, Hub South East’s Project Director said: “We’re delighted to mark the completion of the new Beatlie school, an inclusive learning space with an innovative use of assistive technology to help meet the complex needs of its pupils.

“This was a particularly special project to work on and it’s fantastic to see how it’s already being enjoyed and hearing the positive feedback from staff about how it’s providing additional opportunities for its young people.

“Beatlie now has a state-of-the-art building, designed to be intuitive, joyful and stimulating, allowing its pupils to continue to thrive. We’re proud to have continued our successful partnership with West Lothian Council, assisting in the delivery of high-quality inspiring learning estate and we look forward with excitement to future projects.”

David Ewing, Managing Director, Morrison Construction Scotland – Central said: “We are delighted to have handed over this fantastic new school to the community at Beatlie.

“Morrison Construction has a proud track record, alongside our partners at West Lothian and Hub South East, in delivering high-quality educational buildings for those with specialist needs, and we hope that all those who use the new facilities at Beatlie enjoy the great experience they deserve.”

The new Beatlie School campus was developed with council investment and funding from the Learning Estate Investment Programme, a joint initiative between Scottish and Local Government.