TWO STATE schools have received lottery windfalls to develop joint school and community sports facilities following the political fall-out from the Scottish Sports Council’s pound;2.25 million award to the independent Mary Erskine School in Edinburgh.
Lossiemouth High in Moray has won pound;437,500 to develop sports halls, changing rooms, equipment and parking, and Kirkcaldy High in Fife will be home to a synthetic pitch with floodlights and changing rooms. Its award is pound;280,000.
The cash comes on the back of controversy about the decision to house the national indoor cricket centre at Mary Erskine. The school will use the hall during school hours and is putting in pound;750,000 from its own funds.
The sports council was heavily criticised and it is believed the decision proved crucial in the removal of Graeme Simmers, the council’s chairman.
State school projects, run through councils, have now attracted more than pound;5 million from the lottery against pound;3.55 million for independent schools.
