South Ayrshire Schools, UK

South Ayrshire Schools PPP project, which has been part of the HICL portfolio since 2011, is a 33-year concession to finance, construct and maintain three new primary schools, two new secondary schools and a new performing arts annex at an existing secondary school for South Ayrshire Council.

The InfraRed asset managers, acting through the Board of the PPP project company established, in 2013, an annual fund for initiatives that are developed by the schools to promote and assist the welfare of pupils and the local community. These schemes promote the activities of the school but may not be a statutory responsibility of South Ayrshire Council. Over 20 initiatives and projects requested by the schools have received sponsorship so far.

At Monkton Primary School, the PPP project company covered the cost of 15 electronic tablets to enable the school to develop and promote Post-PC Technology within the Monkton Community. Thanks to the allocation of this equipment, all pupils within the school and nursery were given access to the tablets to enhance the Technologies curriculum. As Michael Halbert (Head Teacher) noted, the positive impact of the initiative spilled beyond the school’s walls over to the wider local community:

“[The tablets] have been used to enhance learning across the school and also were used at an event with some parents and grandparents where a Digital Leaders pupil group showed our older community members how to use them.”

Barassie Primary School was granted funding by the PPP project company towards the installation of an exercise trail to improve the playground. When asked about the benefits of the initiative to the school and the impact of the grant, Linda Clarkson (Head Teacher) said:

“The Exercise Trail has provided added interest to a previously unused area of the playground. It encourages children to be active, manage risk, take turns and challenge each other. The up and over trail requires children to develop their sense of balance and has been successful in providing an engaging alternative to football and other playground activities. We at Barassie appreciate the development made to our school grounds with your support and we are continuing to develop new ideas for the future.”