Structural issues found at PFI school in Stirling

A Stirling school built using the private finance initiative (PFI) 15 years ago has been partially closed this week after structural problems were found in its stairwell and atrium.

Precautionary checks at Balfron High School in Stirlingshire following the Edinburgh PFI schools scandal found faults in interior walls last week. Stirling council said these were issues “that would have been expected to arise within a building that is now 15 years old”.

However, after further investigations more serious issues have now been found which show repair work is needed.

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In a statement, Stirling Council said the school would be closed to S1-3 pupils until Friday, while senior phase pupils will sit exams in other parts of the building.

“Arrangements are currently being put in place for possible alternative provision as required from Thursday and we will update parents, carers and pupils as soon as more information is available.

Our priority is to minimise disruption and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of our pupils and staff, and further updates will be provided as soon as possible,” it said.

Balfron High School was built in 2001 as part of the first privately financed schools in Scotland.

Although of a similar age to the Edinburgh PFI schools, Stirling Council leases the building from a different consortium, SGP Limited, who have owned and managed the facilities since the original constructor, Jarvis, went into administration in 2010.

The contract expires in July 2026.

SGP Limited also runs Highlands and Islands Airport at Nairn.

Before going into administration, Jarvis was also a public private partner at for a schools project in East Renfrewshire and a project for NHS Tayside at Ninewells hospital in Dundee.