Plans to replace Hawick High School with a state of the art facility set within the existing school site are to be presented to Council
Details of the proposal
The plans would see the new school remain at the heart of the community with the building developed in the area of ground between the adjacent cricket club and the older school buildings.
The proposed development would see a four-storey building constructed in one single phase, with the existing school remaining operational throughout, to minimise disruption to students and deliver the finished building in the quickest timescale.
Benefits of the proposed site would include continued access to the adjacent synthetic 3G and 2G sports pitches at Volunteer Park along with continued access to the established access arrangements at the Common Haugh for bus travel to and from the school.
Upon completion of the new building, a follow-on phase would see the old school buildings demolished and a new public entrance plaza created.
Community consultation
A community consultation exercise will be undertaken throughout the remainder of 2021 both online and in-person to gather the views of the wider community and present the initial proposals in full.
Prioritising the development of new schools across the Borders and investing in the futures of young people has been a major focus. Our Learning Estate programme was created to prioritise the accessibility of high-quality educational facilities across the whole region.
This has seen new school facilities built for Kelso and Jedburgh in the last five years, with two major projects also currently underway to replace Galashiels Academy and Peebles High School.
The current target for completion of the new school building is during academic year 2026-27.
Councillor Carol Hamilton, Executive Member for Children and Young People
“Developing and improving the education infrastructure within the Scottish Borders has been a primary focus for Scottish Borders Council in recent years and it’s now Hawick’s turn to reap the benefits of a brand new facility.
“The replacement of the existing Hawick High School with a modern and world-class educational facility will deliver a wide range of educational benefits to the young people of Hawick.
“The Council’s preferred option would see the new school facility remain at the heart of the community and deliver a range of educational and community facilities to improve opportunities and access for everyone in the Hawick area.”