Politicians push for new Hawick High in front of Gala and Selkirk

Westminster MP John Lamont and Holyrood MSP Rachael Hamilton have launched the campaign, which aims to bring about a new high school as soon as possible and unite the town’s politicians behind a united front.

Scottish Borders Council launched a review of all educational facilities in the Borders in September 2016, with a view to building new schools, assessing which schools may need to be merged or closed, and considering how appropriate current catchment areas are.

Education bosses at the council are known to prefer an intergenerational model of education, such as the £32m campus at Jedburgh which will cater for 2-18 year olds and contain community spaces and a library.

In April 2018, Scottish Borders Council agreed to create individualised plans for schools in Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk, and agreed to bring an update to the council in October.

However, the update has so far failed to materialise leaving parents and students in the dark about the future of their school.

John Lamont, who represents Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk in Westminster, said: “Hawick High School has had its fair share of publicity recently, but it is clear that hard working pupils and staff are being let down by a site which is simply not fit for purpose.

“That is why I have joined with my colleague Rachael, to call on the town’s representatives to come together for the good of the town.

“Galashiels is already the front runner to get a new school, because the town and the community is united and has a clear plan.

“Hawick is lucky to have very active local representatives who have already put in a lot of work in to securing a new school for the town.

“Now is the time for the community and for its representatives to come together to focus on delivering for Hawick’s pupils, teachers and parents.

“If we argue amongst ourselves about details, the effect will be that Hawick is put to the back of the queue.”

Rachael Hamilton, who represents Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire in Holyrood, added: “Making a decision on a site would give pupils, teachers and parents a real boost.

“Other towns in the Borders have been fortunate to benefit from a new modern teaching and learning environment and Hawick is clearly in need of some investment.

“Political infighting won’t help, clarity should be provided over such an important issue, this is about giving young people and future generations a place to be proud of.”

The town’s councillors have welcomed the intervention of the two politicians, and threw their weight behind the campaign.

Councillor Stuart Marshall commented: “I think it’s very important that all politicians, councillors and community leaders join forces to continue the campaign for a new high school.

“Of course funding such a project will be a major factor in whether we can deliver such a project, and it’s great that both our Westminster and Holyrood representatives in the area are throwing their weight behind such an initiative.

“Let us hope that between them they can come up with much of the finances required.”

Councillor Watson McAteer said: “I am delighted that our local elected UK and Scottish Conservative politicians are throwing their weight and influence behind a new high school for Hawick.

“I am in complete agreement that politics should have no role in deciding the future of our children and by definition our town and the quicker this project is agreed by all the better.

“Hawick High School has seen its fair share of problems and a new learning campus would go a long way to resolving existing and future problems”

Councillor David Paterson added: “All of the Hawick councillors are campaigning furiously to get a new high school for Hawick, and the councillors in other wards are shouting for their areas as well.

“I’d like John Lamont MP to encourage the Tory government to make more money available to the Scottish Government to make this into a reality.”

The proposals to create individual plans for Galashiels, Hawick, Selkirk and Peebles came on the back of assessments of the four schools that found they all have what are described as major defects.

The facilities at each school were graded from A to D, with A signifying that the buildings are performing well and operating effectively and D indicating that the economic life of the facilities has expired and they are at risk of failure.

The overall conditions of Galashiels Academy, Hawick High School and Selkirk High School were given C ratings, while Peebles High School was deemed to have a B, or good, rating.