A leading Glasgow private school has announced plans to build a new school that focuses on developing problem-solving skills in students.
Kelvinside Academy will open Scotland's first School of Innovation, set in its west end campus, in October this year with plans to 'disrupt' education
Design of the new school will be based on an architecture studio model and will be built in partnership with construction firm Balfour Beatty as part of a £2.5m contract.
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Learning in the new school will tackle real-world challenges and collaborative problem solving rather than the traditional model of exams and results.
David Miller, Director of Scotland’s School of Innovation, said: “This is a must for Scotland if it is to continue to punch above its weight in the global economy during these challenging times. We truly believe we can and will transform education in the United Kingdom. We live in a rapidly changing world and schools need to provide an education which prepares young people to look at things differently.
“Glasgow is the ideal place for the UK’s first innovation school. The city has a booming tech sector, is home to world class universities and some of the world’s most creative and talented engineers, architects and designers.
“Our partnership with Balfour Beatty demonstrates the company’s desire to address a nationwide skills gap. Although central to pupils attending Kelvinside Academy, we intend for the Innovation School to have an impact throughout Scotland and beyond.”
The building is being designed and constructed using sustainable principles including circular models and eco-design.
To mark a major milestone in its construction, Kelvinside Academy and Balfour Beatty hosted a ‘topping-out’ ceremony this week to celebrate the achievement of the building reaching its maximum height.
Kelvinside Academy school pupils are already benefiting from the partnership, with S4 and S5 pupil teams shadowing Balfour Beatty’s construction and design teams, learning from industry experts from the global construction giant, attending meetings, and providing feedback and input.
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Hector MacAulay, Balfour Beatty’s Regional Managing Director for Scotland and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Kelvinside Academy, in a relationship which shares our vision of reducing onsite activity by 25% by the year 2025 and will help us develop our future talent.
“We have worked closely with Kelvinside Academy to ensure a collaborative design process and maximise efficiencies through circular and eco-design principles, which are designed to minimise waste and capitalise on resources. We look forward to successfully delivering this unique project and developing close links between the school and industry for years to come.”
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