Statutory consultation for Shawfair campus
Midlothian Council will launch a statutory consultation in spring to agree the catchment areas for a new community and all-through education campus to be established at Shawfair.
For three-eighteen-year-olds
The remediation of the town centre site by Shawfair LLP is getting underway and construction on the campus is targeted to start once this is complete in 2026. The all-through campus will accommodate children and young people aged three to eighteen.
Three stream primary school
Once completed in June 2028, or as soon as possible thereafter, the site will have a two-stream primary school with capacity for 459 pupils with early years provision. This will be extended to a three-stream school with capacity for 676 pupils when required later.
Places for up to 1200 secondary school pupils
Secondary school facilities will be able to take 900 pupils initially with the option to expand to accommodate 1200 pupils, when needed. Sports and community facilities will be included.
Key community facility
Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry said: “The campus will be a key community facility in the town centre, providing a civic focus for a new town of 4,000 homes once completed.”
Educational advantages
Cllr Parry said the ‘all-through’ campus model also offered educational advantages.
Consistent approach
She said: “A single-campus model eliminates traditional transition challenges between primary and secondary school, reducing attainment dips and improving overall pupil progress. Pupils benefit from a familiar environment and a consistent approach to teaching and learning.”
Preparation work on site underway
The council bought the site from Network Rail, with grant support from the Scottish Government. Work to get it ready for construction will be finished in early 2026. The council will now focus on finalising designs, appointing a contractor and getting all the required consents to begin the building work.
Relieve pressure on other schools
Cllr Parry said: “We’re pleased with progress but we’re aware the campus is a priority to make sure Danderhall Primary School and Dalkeith High School have capacity to accommodate pupils in coming years.
More details of consultation coming
“We’re looking forward to launching the statutory catchment consultation for the Shawfair campus in the spring, further details of which we will share just as soon as we can.”