Crosshouse Primary School and Communication Centre officially opened in special ceremony

The fully refurbished school and two-story extension, which is a key part of the Council’s 10-year plan to improve the school estate, were built by Fleming Buildings Ltd, and opened to children and young people last September.

The school has a new integrated dining and PE block, five additional teaching spaces for both primary school and communication centre use and eight communication centre classrooms that have dedicated quiet rooms. The existing building has been completely refurbished and outside the children have fun landscaped areas for outdoor learning and play.

All the children and young people from the school and communication centre joined Alan Brown MP and Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council to perform the official opening with Head Teacher Tina Gaitens, local elected members Councillors Iain Linton, Lillian Jones and James Adams; Councillor Barry Douglas, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and representatives from Fleming Buildings Ltd.

After the plaque was unveiled by Alan Brown along with Holly, Charlie and Ollie; P1 performed ‘Happy and you know it’, the P7 choir gave a beautiful rendition of ‘Beautiful World’, the Communication Centre had every bopping along to Mr Blue Sky then the whole school joined together to sing their school song.

The invited guests then took a tour of the school and communication centre. They viewed the new gym and dining area; the classrooms and open plan areas within the building, which give teachers and practitioners the opportunity to change learning spaces seamlessly encouraging active learning. They also viewed the beautiful new library with panoramic windows overlooking the playground and outdoor learning spaces.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council said: “It was a real honour to be invited to join Alan Brown and my fellow elected members to celebrate the official opening of Crosshouse Primary School and Communication Centre.

“I know that we have all felt part of this journey – from attending the time capsule ceremony to the official key handover, we watched with interest as the new building took shape. And the end results are very impressive. The school is definitely ready, once again, to shape the lives of our children and young people in Crosshouse and surrounding areas.

“The improvement works and extension were delivered thanks to the Council’s extensive school improvement programme. As a Council we are committed to ensuring that all our children and young people are learning in the best facilities possible, this is made possible by significant investment and also the committed team behind all our school improvement projects. It isn’t an easy job at times but they have our appreciation for all they do.

“And of course the school wouldn’t be here without our contractor Fleming Buildings Ltd, I was pleased to offer my thanks to their team at the ceremony.

“The biggest thanks on the day, however, went to Head Teacher Mrs Gaitens, all the teachers, the support staff and catering team.

“The commitment they demonstrate daily to our children and young people is exemplary. Throughout the decant and subsequent move, everyone showed resilience and worked very hard to ensure that the impact on learning was minimal. The whole Crosshouse Primary and Communication Centre team is valued highly and appreciated by the Council.”

Alan Brown, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun “As MP, I was truly honoured to officially open the new Crosshouse Primary School and Communication Centre. The occasion was made even more meaningful by the fact that my two sons were pupils there over a decade ago.

“The transformation we witness today is truly remarkable and a testament to the dedication and hard work invested in this project. The building now perfectly embodies the school's motto of 'Be the best you can be.'

“Moreover, our commitment to inclusivity remains strong with the continued support of the Communication Centre, which caters to children with social and communication disorders.

“The Centre reflects the local authority’s dedication to providing tailored support for every child's unique needs.

“As we celebrate this milestone, let's look forward to a future where the school continues to nurture our young people’s minds and embraces diversity.”

Ronnie Burrows, Director of Fleming Buildings Ltd said: “Flemings are very proud to be main contractors for the newly completed Crosshouse Primary School and Communication Centre. We wish the school all the best in their improved learning spaces and may this have a positive impact on learners for years to come.”