Councillors have agreed extensions to Mary Russell School and St Andrew’s Academy to address pressures on space and demand for places.
Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board backed the proposed additional accommodation and facilities at its meeting on Thursday, 29th October 2026.
Mary Russell School is operating at full capacity, while St Andrew’s Academy has 1,468 pupils compared with an original capacity of 1,250.
Councillor Edward Grady asked how the pressures were affecting pupils’ learning, wellbeing and access to the curriculum. He also sought assurances about support while the extensions were developed.
Gerard McLaughlin said officers had been monitoring pupil projections and housing developments, while working with school leaders to manage the needs of pupils and staff.
At Mary Russell, refurbishment and changes to existing rooms over the past three years have exhausted opportunities to create more space internally. Some curriculum activities already require provision away from the school site.
Officers told the meeting that a feasibility study was underway to establish what the extension should provide.
They said demand for specialist places was being affected by families moving into Renfrewshire and changes in the complexity of children’s additional support needs.
Assessments were continuing, making it difficult to give a precise figure for the additional places required.
The report says expanding Mary Russell would allow more children to receive specialist education locally and reduce reliance on more expensive external placements and placements outside Renfrewshire. It would also limit associated transport costs.
The proposed timetable is to develop the formal design and proceed to construction in 2027. Further details on the design and timescales will be reported to councillors.
At St Andrew’s Academy, the report puts occupancy at 117%. It says the improvements are intended to meet the needs of existing pupils rather than increase intake beyond current levels.
Provisional designs include five classrooms in a permanent extension, a connecting corridor, pupil and staff toilets and a staff base. Mr McLaughlin confirmed that the toilets would be single sex.
A science classroom, another non-practical teaching room and an oratory are proposed within the main building.
Covered dining and social space, an outdoor sports area with fixed equipment and two additional changing rooms are also included.
Councillor Ben Smith welcomed the plans and praised headteacher Kevin Henry’s management of the school.
He said: “The headteacher, Kevin Henry, does a very good job of managing that influx of students with limited space and resources in some innovative ways, and he maintains the best education for the kids who go there.”
Councillor Smith also questioned how improvements designed for existing pupil numbers would fit with planning for future housing developments.
Mr McLaughlin said: “It helps both. It helps the current school population and future proofing.”
He said officers would continue to monitor pupil numbers and bring a further report to the board.
A representative speaking on behalf of the diocese welcomed the proposal, while stressing that it should not be used to increase the school roll beyond current levels.
Councillor Iain Nicolson said previous efforts to expand St Andrew’s had been restricted by its private finance initiative arrangements, under which a private contractor operates the school.
He said: “For a good number of years, we have always expressed a desire to expand St Andrews academy, but we were always blocked by the PFI arrangements.”
He thanked officers for their work with the contractor, adding: “We have now got to a position where we can work with them to try to improve the provision of education for it.”
Councillor Gillian Graham welcomed both projects and asked whether other schools might require similar improvements.
Mr McLaughlin said officers across council services would continue to assess housing developments and pupil projections to identify where additional accommodation was needed.
The detailed design and final cost of the St Andrew’s project are still being developed with the council’s school provider. The report says work could begin in 2027 and be completed in 2028.
Final costs for both projects would be brought forward for possible inclusion in the council’s 2027/28 capital plan, subject to approval.