Council bids for £14m funding to help build new Our Lady and St Patrick's High School

West Dunbartonshire Council has applied to the Scottish Futures Trust for funding to help build a £21m state-of-the-art campus for Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in Dumbarton.

Pupils, staff and Councillors are now hopeful the bid for £14m - backed up by £7m from the Council - will be given the green light next month.

Scottish Futures Trust - who work with the public sector on behalf of the Government to deliver value for money investment in bricks and mortar - had invited Scotland's 32 local councils to each bid for funding for a new secondary school building.

The Council put Our Lady and St Patrick's forward since the area's other four secondary schools either have new buildings or are in the process of having them built.

Terry Lanagan, Executive Director for Educational Services, said: "Exam results over several years show that this school is performing very strongly at a national level but we believe a new, modern building could only help to drive further improvements for the benefit of pupils, parents and staff.

"The existing school facilities have served the school and community well for many years, but the time is now right to offer first-class teaching in first-class surroundings and we are very hopeful that our bid will be supported by the Scottish Futures Trust."

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, Convener of Educational Services, said: "Our Lady and St Patrick's is a large school and this investment will benefit almost 1000 pupils which would be fantastic.

"This Council is committed to improving school facilities and this bid would be the first step on that journey. It's really encouraging news for the people of Dumbarton and beyond and we are really hopeful that the bid will be successful.

Councillor Michelle Stewart, Depute Convener, said: "Our Lady and St Patrick's High School is our best performing secondary school and it is only fitting its pupils should enjoy the same first class facilities that our other secondary schools currently offer. I really hope this bid is successful, and if it is then West Dunbartonshire would be one of very few areas in Scotland to be able to say every single secondary school has a new campus."