GALASHIELS, Selkirk, Hawick and Peebles will all vye to be next in line for a state-of-the-art learning campus.

Following the enthusiastic reception that plans for an intergenerational campus in Jedburgh has received, education bosses want to replicate the concept in the four towns which are currently awaiting a new secondary school.

Members of the local authority's ruling administration yesterday agreed for a detailed assessment to be carried out before the end of the year.

And over the next couple of months each will be scored on the need for a replacement secondary building as well as catchment primaries, and the community benefits each would bring by having a new campus.

Education director Donna Manson said: "All of these communities would like a new building and have been inspired by the success of the Jedburgh consultation and outcome.

"The only way to address this matter in a fair way is to carry out a deep assessment of each of the schools, with a specific focus on suitability, condition, capacity and links to the intergenerational and community benefits.

"This assessment will be carried out between November and December and the outcome brought back to the Education Executive in January."

Across the Scottish Borders new secondary schools have been built in Duns, Eyemouth, Earlston and Kelso over the past 15 years.

And preparation work is well underway to deliver a revolutionary campus in Jedburgh which will host all of the town's nursery and primary education provision as well as Jedburgh Grammar School.

All four of the remaining high schools - Galashiels Academy, Selkirk High, Hawick High and Peebles High - are in need of being replaced.

And many of the primary schools in each of their catchment areas are also crammed and outdated.

It is hoped to be able to deliver the new campuses in each town over the next 10 to 15 years.

Mrs Manson added: “This a comprehensive set of proposals that will considerably support our commitment to providing equity of provision across our school estate as best we can, as well as ensuring that our children and young people are given the highest quality learning and development opportunities that we can make available to them.

“They would also signal an exciting and innovative future for the provision of education in the Borders, encompassing all ages from our youngest to the more mature amongst us, and I look forward to discussing the recommendations with the Executive and to receiving their response.”