Future Replacement of Baljaffray, Harestanes, Meadowburn and St Helen’s Primary Schools
East Dunbartonshire Council has a well-earned reputation for the high standard of education provided in our schools.
We have committed, professional teachers and support staff working hard to constantly improve and innovate to give young people the best possible educational experience.
Across the area, many aging schools have been replaced with new buildings offering pupils and staff a modern learning and teaching environment in which to thrive. Others have been refurbished to an excellent standard.
Throughout 2024/25, the Council carried out a high-level feasibility study to determine options for the future replacement of four of our older schools: Baljaffray Primary in Bearsden, Harestanes Primary in Kirkintilloch, and Meadowburn Primary and St. Helen’s Primary Schools, both in Bishopbriggs.
These four schools had previously been identified as CLASP buildings - constructed in the 1960s and 70s and due to their construction method, unable to be economically refurbished to meet net zero standards.
To begin exploring the possibility of replacing these schools over the next decade, we will carry out early engagement with elected members, teachers, staff, pupils, families, the wider school community and local residents
High-level Feasibility Study
The high-level feasibility study looked at whether the landscaped areas of the four schools could be built on while the school remained operational for staff and pupils. This is called a tandem build, and we looked at if/how this could possibly happen subject to further design development and approval.
Have Your Say
We will visit all four schools over October and November 2026 to listen to what teachers, staff, pupils and parent councils think about their school and any future plans for it. We will also host four community engagement events for local residents with an interest in the schools. Events will be in the assembly halls as follows:
- Baljaffray Primary - Thursday 1 October, 6-8pm
- Harestanes Primary - Wednesday 7 October, 6-8pm
- Meadowburn Primary - Wednesday 28 October ,6-8pm
- St Helen’s Primary - Wednesday 4 November, 6-8pm
At this very early stage, we are looking for your thoughts on the school, its site and immediate surroundings such as nearby streets, paths and access points to the school.
The information we receive will be used to inform the next stage of the design. Individual ideas may not be included but will help to further the designs holistically.
CLASP School Replacement Survey
Please complete our short survey.
Next steps
As outlined previously this is an exploratory exercise to inform any future choices about the future of these four schools over the coming years.
This feedback will be used to advise next steps and any future design would require further consideration and engagement and development.
A report detailing the findings of the engagement sessions will go to the next appropriate meeting of East Dunbartonshire Council and we will update this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The existing schools were built in the 1960s and no longer meet the required space standards. The existing schools were designed in such a way that the structures cannot be altered, therefore the most suitable option is to replace the schools.
The intention is that the existing schools will remain open and operational for pupils and staff while the new schools are being built on the open space. This means that certain external spaces will be out of bounds during the construction phase.
There will be drop off areas available for parent/carers of children attending the early years centres on the school site. Any parent/carer parking provision for the school during pick and drop off will be reviewed as part of the next stage in design development. Consideration will be given to ease congestion around the schools to minimise the number of cars near children.
This engagement period is an exploratory exercise to inform any future choices about the future of these four schools over the coming years. There is no fixed date for the construction of the new schools.
The MUGAs may be removed to allow for the construction of the new schools, however new MUGAs will be built once the existing schools have been demolished.
To benefit from the tandem build method of construction on the sites, the schools would be built on the existing open space within the schoolgrounds. The position of the new schools will take minimum overlooking distances into account, and will be subject to planning consent.
If your child is currently enrolled at one of the four schools, they will retain their place. If you want to enrol your child at one of the schools for future years, please follow the usual registration request process.
There will be no change to the catchment areas for the schools.
Spaces in the schools, such as the main hall, will be available for let by the community. Lets currently held in the schools will be considered during further design development stages.
There may be a reduction in parking provision on the school sites to allow the construction of the new schools. There will be construction traffic entering the school sites, however, this will be arranged to avoid school drop-off and pick-up times.
The new schools will be built to modern net-zero design standards.
The existing provisions will be retained at each school – none of the current provisions will be removed. An Early Years Centre with the capacity for 60 children will be included at each school, and each school will be designed to the latest space requirement standards.
The new schools will be fully accessible and compliant with all building regulations to ensure that all students, no matter their physical ability, can access every part of the school.
Baljaffray PS – 250 pupils
Harestanes PS – 125 pupils (plus classes for Enhanced Learning Resource)
Meadowburn PS – 339 pupils (including Gaelic provision)
St Helen’s PS – 290 pupils
In East Dunbartonshire, the population of the primary school estate has been declining, and continues to decline in the future projections, even when recent and future housing developments are taken into consideration. Therefore, the capacity for each school will be similar to the existing.
The layouts of the schools haven’t been designed yet, but each will be tailored to each site to ensure it meets the individual requirements of the school. This will be considered during further design development stages.