Senior Renfrewshire Council officers have insisted the overall “quality” of Park Mains High School in Erskine will remain a key focus when a £30 million extension is built.

Plans are in place for a 400-pupil expansion to meet an expected rise in numbers in the years ahead, with construction set to begin at the facility in 2026 and finish the following year.

The school in Barrhill Road, which opened in 2012, was given a B rating for condition – defined as satisfactory, performing as intended but showing minor deterioration – as part of a ‘core facts’ analysis.

While the building was given an A for both suitability and sufficiency, the condition score surprised Councillor Gillian Graham, who represents Johnstone North and the surrounding villages, at Thursday’s education and children’s services policy board.

The Labour group education spokesperson conceded she was a “bit concerned” by the B rating, adding: “You kind of think it would be an A.”

She continued: “It’s similar to older schools. In fact its condition report is lower than Gryffe [High School].

“As a council we’ve committed to building a new extension to the school to accommodate pupils from the Dargavel and Bishopton area.

“Can we have some reassurance that the existing school will maintain its condition and its suitability during the extended period of the borrowing involved?”

Gerry Lyons, interim head of education, responded: “Yes absolutely.

“One of the issues that we’re keeping a very close eye on during the process of creating the extension is ensuring the quality of the whole facility is at the level we want it to be at.

“One of the issues that we’re managing is the impact and interventions that have to be done in the current building to accommodate the extension.

“But overarchingly we want at the end of of that process for something which is at an A-rating, so that the current building and extension match each other in terms of quality.

“It’s a really important issue to pick up but it’s one that we’re very focused on.”

The decision to extend Park Mains to add capacity for another 400 pupils, bringing the total capacity to 2,000, was made at the board in May last year.

Meanwhile, work to establish a modular unit at the school to provide additional flexibility in the short-term is now complete.