Village schools will become a thing of the past in Midlothian if the plans put forward last week are finally approved by the Council.

Word of the plans to be proposed by the Education Division had obviously spread rapidly and close to 50 members of the public crowded into the Council Chamber for the special meeting of the Cabinet last Thursday to hear Director Donald MacKay outline plans to close five village schools, refurbish two, and replace nine others under a Public Private Partnership deal valued at £38.5m for construction costs, with a further £11.5m for running costs.

In addition, four nursery school buildings will close with the schools being incorporated into nearby primary schools.

There are also plans - not approved at last week’s meeting - for two new schools paid for out of the Council’s capital budget as well as new buildings and extensions for which developers will be expected to pay.

The main changes as they effect the Penicuik area are:

1. The closure of both Ladywood and Eastfield Primary Schools and their replacement with a single new school, also to include Strathesk Nursery;
2. The closure of Howgate Primary School;
3. The refurbishment of Cuiken Primary School, also to include Cuikenburn Nursery.

Developers will be expected to contribute to a two-classroom extension at Mauricewood Primary.

Elsewhere in the county, Borthwick, Temple, Cranston, and Cousland will close while Bryans and Langlaw will amalgamate and Loanhead and St Margaret’s will share a campus on a new site.

The Cabinet agreed to an immediate consultation on the proposals with a meeting scheduled for Monday, March 22, in Penicuik High School, to consider plans for Penicuik and Howgate.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting Adam Montgomery, Council Leader said; "This is a one-off opportunity to tackle a legacy of property underfunding and a backlog of maintenance concerns.

"The proposals have resulted from a full review of all our nursery and primary schools involving education and schools staff as well as property experts.

"The structure and local plans have set out our expected population growth and we need to plan primary school provision to cope. I believe these proposals present a wonderful opportunity to provide the best education to the future generations of pupils."

Councillor Peter Boyes, Cabinet member for Education and Lifelong Learning, drew attention to the recently completed St Andrews Primary School in Gorebridge.

"This new primary school is a breath of fresh air and is an excellent example of the quality of schools which this project aspires to deliver. We want to provide schools which meet the broadest curricular needs and provide inspiring facilities for our young people. Many of the current buildings are either unsuitable or of poor standard, or both.

"This is a huge investment for Midlothian Council affecting over 50 per cent of our primary schools," he said.

"I would urge everyone to get involved in this consultation - even if your children are not yet at school. However the investment must be looked at in its entirety.

"The project tackles nursery and primary provision for over 8,000 existing pupils as well as the projected population growth expected in the next 10 years."