Councillors approve £25million Additional Support Needs school will replace Haysholm and Stanecastle

Pupils from the town’s two special needs schools will move to Stevenston where the new ‘superschool’ will be based after the plans were given the green light at a special North Ayrshire Council meeting on Tuesday, August 30.

James McFarlane and James Reid schools in Ardrossan and Saltcoats respectively will also close and a public consultation will be launched.

This would leave Irvine without any special needs schools but the chair of Haysholm Parent Council has welcomed the move.

Christina Larsen previously said Haysholm is currently “not fit for purpose” and pupils would benefit from new facilities.

And she gave a passionate speech at the crunch meeting on Tuesday which was applaued by councillors.

Three years ago, parents and the public opposed a move against Haysholm and James McFarlane being housed on the current site of Ardrossan Academy.

The plans for the new Stevenston school were first revealed in the council’s budget in February with Ardrossan Academy also in line to get a brand new facility.

But just over two months ago, NAC scrapped plans for a £6million disability day centre on the very same site they hope they new school will be built on.

The consultation is due to get underway on September 12 with all interested parties to make written representation to be intimated no later than November 4.

Of the four schools currently in operation, James McFarlane is the youngest as it was built in 1988 with all over the other three coming into being in the 70s.

Both Stanecastle and Haysholm celebrated their 40th birthdays this year with Provost Joan Sturgeon among those to hail their contribution to the town.

Early estimations point to a saving of almost £400,000 per year by bringing the schools together and improving the quality of education and care for the children. 

The report to North Ayrshire Council states a closing time for the four schools of June 2020 or earlier.