GALASHIELS and Hawick have won the race to get new secondary schools.

Over the past few months education bosses have carried out detailed assessments at the Academy, Selkirk High, Hawick High and Peebles High, to work out who should be next for a new learning campus.

And a finalised report, which will be presented to Thursday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Council, states Galashiels and Hawick are the priority for replacements.

During the assessment period, the four schools were scored on their need for a new building.

The current Galashiels Academy and Hawick High were both given a grade C suitability rating (poor) as they are “showing major problems and/or not operating optimally”.

Selkirk and Peebles received a B rating (satisfactory).

In the 15-page document, Donna Manson, SBC’s service director for children and young people, states: “In Galashiels and Hawick there is strong appetite for a new school and for improved opportunities and experiences. However, further work is required regarding deliverable concepts and an assessment of all possible options. 

“Considering the context of possible future funding announcements by the Scottish Government in 2018 and the overall C assessment of each school, this work needs to progress at a pace and will include ongoing discussions with Scottish Government partners. 

“These two projects will go forward as a priority to the next stage of design and be brought back to council to report progress in October.”

As part of the detailed assessments, consultation events were held at the four schools last month to engage with staff, parents and pupils.

At Galashiels, 382 pupils attended with 82 members of the public/staff.

In Hawick there were 514 pupils at the event with 69 members of the public/staff.

In Selkirk 390 pupils attended with 80 members of the public/staff. And in Peebles 370 pupils took part with 234 members of the public/staff.

Locals were also invited to submit their views online.

Over the past month the council received in excess of 510 completed forms – 84 regarding Galashiels, 92 from Hawick, 288 from residents in Peebles and 47 from Selkirk.

Ms Manson stated: “The Workshops did stimulate a high level of engagement and debate. It was a particularly effective method for the pupils to share their views and comments about the present and the future.

"The pupils have to be commended upon their contribution and positive engagement. The quality of their engagement, their ideas and the sensitivity displayed throughout was impressive across all school communities and is to be commended.”