The new Currie Community High School was officially opened at an official ceremony by Cllr James Dalgleish and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth.
The new Currie Community High School was officially opened at an official ceremony by Education, Children and Families Convenor, Cllr James Dalgleish and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth.
The school in the west of Edinburgh opened its doors to pupils in August 2025 and is one of the first Passivhaus-designed high schools in the country, setting the standard for energy consumption across school estates.
Passivhaus is a rigorous energy standard which reduces the amount of energy needed for heating by up to 90%. It also lowers the total amount of energy used by around 70% and minimises carbon emissions. The new school supports Edinburgh’s aim of net zero emissions by 2030.
The campus has been designed with the needs of learners, as well as the local community in mind. The school includes a four-court sports hall, a gym hall, fitness suite, dance studio, a Passivhaus four lane swimming pool and a 3G pitch.
The main entrance foyer includes the school library alongside informal social and meeting spaces for the community to use. These facilities include a wellness centre, meeting room and café area which has been included with the aim of providing refreshments for community users in the near future.
Aiming to encourage cross curricular and collaborative learning, the school has two large open plan learning plazas that are easily accessed by classrooms on all three floors. Along with classrooms in an Integrated Support Zone, there is a sensory room and nurture room. Breakout and retreat spaces throughout the school offer pupils choice on where they want to work, socialise or take time out.
The new school building has been designed in line with the guiding principles of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Strategy and is one of the projects in the first phase of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said:
This is a school to inspire the next generation in more ways than one, and the campus has not only been designed with learners’ needs at its heart, but with their ideas and input integrated throughout the building.
This campus also stands to benefit the wider community, which is also central to its ethos. The broad range of facilities on offer reflects this – from the state-of-the-art gym, public spaces and of course the swimming pool that are open to the community, as well as pupils.
The building itself is designed to be fit for the future and support our net-zero commitment. It is a pleasure to see pupils and school staff already enjoying and taking advantage of the opportunities for collaboration and expression that are central to its design.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth said:
The Scottish Government has been proud to partner with the City of 麻豆映画 and support them with over £22 million of funding to support the building of the new Currie Community Campus.
We know that high quality school buildings play a key role in supporting children and young people to thrive in their education. Since 2007, the proportion of school buildings in “good” or “satisfactory” condition has increased from 62.7% to a record 92% thanks to Scottish Government investment in the school estate.
Through this funding from the Scottish Government, the local Council has been able to construct a school that is a modern, flexible and sustainable learning environment, which will be a huge asset to the local area for the years to come.
Jenny Hutchison, Head Teacher at Currie Community High School, said:
The opening of our new school marks not just the unveiling of bricks and mortar, but of new beginnings, a school where curiosity will be nurtured, talents discovered, and futures shaped for generations to come. It has been a whirlwind 12 weeks since our pupils first walked through the doors and it is everything we expected and more.
We have the most incredible school and it’s been amazing seeing it come to life with pupils and staff in the campus. I want to personally thank everyone involved in the project, which has been such a team effort. Together, we will make Currie Community High School not just a building, but a beacon of excellence, hope, inclusion, and inspiration.
Phil McDowell, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said:
Currie Community High School is a special project that showcases our deep sector expertise in delivering complex, high-performance education facilities. It reflects our passion for creating spaces that not only support learning but also lead the way in sustainability and decarbonisation.
As the first Passivhaus school in Scotland with a swimming pool, it sets a new standard for low-energy design and long-term value. We’re proud to have worked in close partnership with the City of 麻豆映画 to deliver a futureproofed school that will benefit generations to come—both as a place of learning and as a sustainable community asset.