One thousand pupils are returning to school earlier than planned after the latest programme of remedial works was submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council by the Edinburgh Schools Partnership (ESP).

 
The announcement today revealed that four primary schools, Pirniehall, St David’s, Broomhouse and St Joseph’s, will now open on Monday 20 June – ahead of schedule. Pupils from Rowanfield School will also return earlier than planned on Monday 27 June.

This follows the 900 pupils from Oxgangs and St Peter’s Primary Schools and Braidburn School who returned to their own schools last month, followed by Firrhill High School, which completely reopened on schedule last week.

This means that a  total of 4,600 pupils will have returned to their own schools before the end of the summer term.

The remaining primary schools – Craigour Park, Forthview, Craigroyston and Castleview – will all be handed back during the summer break, as will Craigmount, Gracemount, Drummond and Royal High Schools.  Where there are opportunities for earlier reopening, parents will be advised.

This means that all 17 affected schools will welcome back their pupils for the start of the new term on 17 August. All the new dates for the individual schools are on the Council website.

Council Leader Andrew Burns said: “We have continued to press the Edinburgh Schools Partnership to bring forward school reopening dates where possible so I’m pleased that we now have 1,000 pupils returning earlier than planned.

“Our priority has always been the safety of our pupils and staff and we have insisted that Edinburgh Schools Partnership and their contractors ensure that our schools are 100% safe to reopen.

“As with the schools that reopened last month, all of the relevant paperwork will be published on our website having been reviewed by an independent expert on behalf of the Council.

“I want again to thank parents for their patience and understanding and teaching staff for their commitment and flexibility during this difficult time.”

Correspondence from ESP and their contractors providing safety assurances will be published on the Council website before each school reopens.

The Council has confirmed that an independent inquiry into the school closures will commence after the summer holidays.