Edinburgh University offers teaching spaces for pupils affected by PPP school closures as contingency plans emerge

The University of Edinburgh has contacted Edinburgh City Council to offer teaching spaces for those affected by school closures in the city this week.

After an urgent review of room availability, the university identified a large number of seats that could be made available which are now being considered by council officials.

17 schools across Edinburgh were closed on Monday amid fears about the structural integrity of schools built during the city’s first public private partnership (PPP) deal between 2001 and 2005.

Contingency plans have been put in place for S4, S5 and S6 pupils at the five closed high schools in the city, but S1 and S2 pupils and primaries remain affected.

University of Edinburgh senior vice-principal Professor Charlie Jeffrey said: “We recognise the problems that the school closures will cause parents and children and – in a spirit of good neighbourliness – are striving to do what we can to help.

“The number of spaces we can offer will vary in the coming weeks as we enter exam season for our own students. We are working closely with the council to help where we can in this evolving situation.”

Drummond, Firrhill and Royal High schools were only refurbished during the PPP deal and are therefore suitable for senior phase pupils to return tomorrow.

Schools rebuilt during the scheme are still deemed unsafe. Pupils at Gracemount will be going to Liberton tomorrow, while Craigmount pupils will be attending Tynecastle from Thursday.

All primary and special needs pupils will be back in classrooms by April 19, according to the council.

Edinburgh’s chief executive Andrew Kerr said: “We identified senior phase pupils who are preparing for their exams as a priority and I’m pleased that we now have arrangements in place for them to go back to school.

“Work is continuing to identify alternative options for primary, special and S1 to S3 pupils which we will communicate to parents as soon as we have the information.

“I fully recognise the significant inconvenience to parents caused by these closures and I want to thank them for their patience as we continue to work through this issue.”