£15m multi-faith campus is unveiled as pupils enjoy best of facilities for learning

By CATRIONA STEWART

GLASGOW'S final multi-faith school campus has been unveiled.

And the Evening Times joined city council leader Gordon Matheson as he took a tour of the £15million Benview Campus in Ruchill.

The campus brings together two primary schools, the former Ruchill Autism Unit and Benview Early Years centre.

It marks the last of three new multi-faith campuses built across the city and is the final part of the council's primary school building plans.

Benview brings together St Cuthbert's – which was a merger of the former Our Lady Of Assumption and St Cuthbert's primaries – and Highpark Primary, which was a merger between Ruchill and Westercommon primaries.

Ruchill Autism Unit is now called Highpark Learning and Communication Resource.

It joins Keppoch Campus in the north of the city and Govan Road Campus, which officially opened last Thursday.

Sian Bartholomew, Highpark Primary head teacher, said: "The pupils, staff and families of all schools were working really hard together while the building was being constructed and it is wonderful now to all be together under one roof."

Kay Hunter, head of Highpark Language and Communications Resource, added: "Our pupils are already flourishing in their new, bright surroundings."

Highpark Primary and St Cuthbert's Primary both have eight new classrooms and one general purpose room.

Pupils from Highpark Language and Communication Resource have four classrooms, one general purpose room, a library and special soft play room.

The Early Years Centre has two nursery classrooms, a toddlers room and a baby room, as well as outside play areas.

Sandra Groves, Benview Early Years centre head teacher, said: "Our outside play area is a real bonus for the children and they are outside first thing whatever the weather."

Although primary classes are held separately, youngsters share other parts of the campus, which was designed by architects Anderson, Bell and Christie and built by City Building (Glasgow) LLP.

The youngsters will jointly use the media suite and library, a conference room, the games hall and dining hall.

There is also a floodlit synthetic seven-a-side football pitch for all pupils.

Benview also has a joint nurture class for pupils from across the school who need extra support.

Susan Quinn, St Cuthbert's Primary head teacher, added: "Our new campus is lovely and we are all enjoying working together in our new surroundings."

Councillor Gordon Matheson said: "It was lovely to have a tour of the new campus and, more importantly, meet the children and staff who are going to breathe life into this fabulous building.

Benview is part of a total of £550million that has been or is being spent by the council on secondary, primary, special needs and nursery schools – more than 100 new establishments.

The final school merger will see St Peter's and Notre Dame primaries come together in the former Dowanhill Primary building.

The new Notre Dame School is being refurbished and extended and is expected to open in 2013.

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk