Councillors have agreed to launch a consultation on plans to relocate an additional suport needs school in Motherwell to new premises.

Since 1997 Bothwellpark High School, which provides for secondary school aged pupils with special educatonal needs, has shared a campus with Our Lady’s High School. Over time the school roll has grown from around 30 pupils to more than 50.

Following a review of services carried out in 2019, North Lanarkshire Council is working to create specialist hubs for additional support needs schools and as part of this it is proposed that Bothwellpark High School move to the Edward Lawson Centre in Wishaw. The design of this building is more accessible and suitable for wheelchairs as well as offering greater potential for outdoor learning.

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Reporting to the council’s Education and Families committee, head of education Gerard McLaughlin said that the present facilities meant there were ways in which it was not possible to compete with what was offered to pupils in other council areas. He added that the proposed facilities would allow for greater use of specialist equipment, better learning experiences and specially designed outdoor learning spaces.

The new location would also allow for links with St Aidan’s Primary School Language and Communication Support Centre as the primary school is located nearby.

If the move goes ahead, the space freed up at Our Lady’s would most likely be used to establish an integrated wellbeing hub.

The Edward Lawson Centre was previously used as a training hub and has also served as a Covid-19 testing centre. The building is considered to be in very good condition. The cost of relocating Bothwellpark High School is yet to be determined.

 The committee agreed unanimously to proceed with the consultation.