Exciting times...

I attended a presentation this afternoon by the architects designing the new St Columba's High School and the new shared campus in Port Glasgow and was very impressed by what I saw.

Immediately afterwards I attended a meeting of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee where we were given details of the major schools projects over the coming year or so.

Our two new PPP secondary schools - Notre Dame High School and Clydeview Academy - are nearing completion and will open next month.

Two major primary school refurbishments are currently underway - the former Earnhill Primary School for the new St Andrew's Primary School and Overton for the merged school from Overton and Highlanders Academy. St Andrew's should open in September of this year and Overton should be completed in summer 2012.

Work should start on the new shared campus in August of this year and on the new St Columba's in October.

Work should start in July of this year on the £1.3m refurbishment of the Binnie Street Community Centre in Gourock to create a new children's centre.

Work should also start in late 2011 on the £2.2m refurbishment of the former St Laurence's Primary School to replace the Mearns Centre for young people with challenging behaviour.

Exciting times indeed for education in Inverclyde.