Loanhead Primary and Early Childhood Centre official opening

Kilmarnock schools pipe band pipers and former Loanhead pupils, Aodhen and Ewan, were on hand to get the ceremony off to a wonderful start playing beautifully in the reception area before piping special guests including Provost Jim Todd into the school.

Head Teacher Amanda Milne and Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer and Head of Education, welcomed guests to the ceremony that took place in the historic heart of the school and included wonderful entertainment from the whole school. They performed two songs, ‘I am the Earth’ and ‘A Million Dreams’ and there was a wonderful performance from the Loanhead Lions, the school’s new drumming group.

Amelia and Olivia performed a poem called ‘Our School’ that had been written by young people from P7. Their performance was confident and self-assured, impressing the invited guests. The poem, which was framed and presented as a gift to Cllr Reid by Archie and Molly, covered the history of the school from 1905 to the present day and had some wonderful lines including: “The 1970’s gave us toilets indoors – no more ‘going’ in the cauld.”

Euan Clark from the contractor Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd presented vouchers to Mrs Milne before Councillor Reid, who was joined by Councillor Elaine Cowan, Councillor Maureen McKay and local members Councillors Graham Barton, Graham Boyd and Neal Ingram, gave a brilliant speech about his memories of being a pupil at Loanhead. The outdoor toilets did feature in the speech and he even read from his old exercise books that had been saved by his sister Jean, who joined him at the ceremony.

Councillor Reid said: “I was honoured to be invited by Head Teacher Amanda Milne to Loanhead Primary and Early Childhood Centre to finally perform the official opening of the school and unveil a plaque with Amelia and Olivia. The school has been completely modernised and extended to include a new Early Childhood Centre and the work has been carried out very sympathetically - the lift shaft blends in seamlessly it looks like it has been there since the start.

“Unveiling the plaque and officially opening the school was a very proud moment, I know how much the school means to the people of Kilmarnock. My mum and dad attended Loanhead and so did I along with my brother and my sister. The school is steeped in world and Scottish history but also thousands of family histories. Since 1905, thousands of children have attended the school, made friends for life and Loanhead will forever be in their hearts. I am proud of that legacy but also as Leader of East Ayrshire Council I am proud that our extensive school improvement programme meant that we invested in Loanhead’s future and that our children and young people are learning in the best of facilities.”

Background information

The extensive renovation and building programme, which began in October 2019 and reopened to pupils in April 2021, saw the 117-year-old school completely modernised, with new toilets installed on all levels, a lift was installed within the school atrium, and a new single storey Early Childhood Centre for 42 children built that features light, bright and modern flexible dining and activity areas. A fully glazed link connects the primary school with the extension.

The former janitor’s house, which was latterly the school kitchen and dining hall, was refurbished to provide accommodation for the PEACE Group that provides afterschool clubs.

The £4.15m project, which was part of an extensive investment programme in educational facilities across East Ayrshire, ensures that our youngest learners benefit from modern, dedicated facilities providing 1140hours of early learning and childcare and that our children and young people are learning within an inclusive educational environment providing the best possible start to their educational journey.