Pupils and staff at Woodburn Primary School in Dalkeith, Midlothian are enjoying new state-of-the-art educational facilities after Kier’s early completion of an £11.4m project.
Completed ahead of schedule on behalf of Midlothian Council, Kier delivered the design and build of the new 2,262m2 extension and refurbishment, increasing pupil capacity from a three-stream to a four-stream entry.
The school has been extended to include nine new classrooms and an additional gym hall, while the dining hall and kitchen have been upgraded and extended to accommodate the expansion.
Outdoor improvements feature new play areas, a sensory and activity garden using locally sourced materials, shrubs and wildflower seeds, while log seating has been crafted from trees removed during construction. The project team also achieved a ’10 tonnes Achievement Award’ through donations to the Community Wood Recycling charity, diverting waste from landfill whilst supporting social enterprise.
As an organisation committed to reducing the carbon footprint on its projects, Kier installed smart sockets in the site cabins at Woodburn, leading to an energy consumption reduction of 53% - equating to 986kg of carbon saved during the construction process.
Kier is dedicated to leaving lasting legacies within the communities in which it operates and, throughout the project, we have created new jobs and work placement opportunities, as well as delivering several education engagement events. In addition, almost £5,000 has been given to the local community through donations including sports equipment, foodbank vouchers and voluntary local labour work.
Improvements to the Early Years’ playground and the resurfacing of a nearby access road have also been carried out by the Kier team pro bono as part of the social value work delivered alongside the project.
“We are thrilled to see pupils and staff at Woodburn Primary School enjoying their fantastic new facilities. Our expertise in design through to completion has enabled us to deliver an outstanding school on behalf of Midlothian Council whilst being sensitive to, and creative with, the environment around the site.”
Phil McDowell, regional director for Kier North & Scotland
“It’s great to see the pupils and staff so excited about the new extension. And who could blame them? What a wonderful learning environment to help give our children the best start in life while providing excellent facilities for our wider community.”
Councillor Kelly Parry, Midlothian Council Leader
Headteacher of Woodburn Primary School, Joanna Findlay said the extension opening was another highlight in a great year for the school and nursery.
“Having watched the hard work and dedication of the team building our fantastic extension from the ground up, it’s wonderful to see it finished and being enjoyed by our staff and children. We are in the process of planning opportunities for our families and wider community to come and visit our new learning spaces, both indoors and out.
“We are very proud of the recognition the school received in our HMIe Inspection earlier this year. Alongside our Rights Respecting Schools Sustained Gold Award, this acknowledges the hard work and commitment of our whole school community.
“Going forward, we are excited to build on these successes through utilising our new learning environment in creative and innovative ways.”
Joanna Findlay, Headteacher of Woodburn Primary School
This project continues Kier's track record of delivering state-of-the-art schools across Scotland, with its portfolio including the delivery of the Passivhaus projects at Currie Community High School and Tain Academy as well as the latest contract award at St Kevin’s Primary School in North Lanarkshire.