Wednesday December 3rd 2025
The packed meeting in Calderwood Primary School on Monday night. More than 300 registered an interest and more than 400 people attended according to Calderwood.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
More than 400 people turned out at the first consultation meeting debate whether a new secondary school should be built in East Calder.
Given the choice between that and bussing children to Winchburgh or Livingston a show of hands left council officials in no doubt that a new school for East Calder is the only choice for the majority.
Strength of feeling was evident in the turnout at Calderwood Primary school on Monday night. Such local information evenings on catchment area changes usually attract no more than two dozen parents. Organisers said they were “blown away” by the support.
The council had already had early warning of the opposition it faces to bus children. Local councillors have been deluged with questions and opposition to the initial plan.
Last month the Calderwood Residents’ Association forced a meeting of West Lothian’s Education Executive to include the option of a new secondary in the consultation.
The original plan for the month-long initial consultation was to give parents the choice of where Calderwood children should go from 2026. Two options were presented: Winchburgh Academy and James Young High School in Dedridge, Livingston.
These bussing plans were roundly rejected on Monday night. Parents’ comments summed up the tone.
One said: “It’s mad that they could be bussing 900 kids from East Calder to secondary school. The council seems happy to settle for mediocrity rather than working with local communities to create a better future for our children.”
Another said: “My young children’s future hangs in the balance, yet it feels as though West Lothian Council is focused on spreadsheets rather than lives. An East Calder High School is vital for families already stretched by years of rapid growth.
Another mum tapped the feelings of many in the room who chose to make their lives in the newly developed Calderwood Core Development Area,which has transformed the once rural fringe of East Calder.
She said: “I’m a resident of Calderwood since 2017. I was so pleased to see the community come together and make our voices heard. Everyone knows that East Calder needs a school, and we showed tonight that we are an informed, caring, and passionate community who want the best for our children and neighbours.”
Many felt the council was using the most pessimistic of costings to rush a decision rather than exploring the potential benefit of building a new secondary.
Officers believe a new school could cost around £80m whereas the planned extensions which will be needed to Winchburgh and James Young would come in at around £25m each.
Traditionally East Calder children are part of a long narrow catchment area for West Calder High school which stretches along the southern border of the county.
While initially considered an indicative option there has never been realistic plans beyond site identification for a new East Calder Secondary. It has never been on the agenda for either the Labour minority-led administration in the last two administrations, nor the opposition SNP group since the Calderwood area began to develop.
In that time two new secondary schools have been opened in Winchburgh the other neighbouring Core Development Area, as funding solutions for that CDA have come together.
Key opposition to bussing the children from Calderwood to Winchburgh is the poor road network between the two communities and, more generally, along south to north routes in West Lothian.
Niamh Barton-Maynard, secretary of the Calderwood Residents’ Association told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We were absolutely blown away by the turnout tonight — it shows just how strongly this community feels. East Calder is one of the fastest-growing areas in West Lothian, and even with extensions to existing schools, at the current rate of development we would be back in exactly the same position in less than a decade.
“After tonight’s meeting, we hope the Education Committee and the Labour-led council can see this is not about political point-scoring — it’s about doing right by our children, our communities and creating a positive, lasting legacy for future generations.”
Mrs Barton-Maynard added: “All we’re asking is that the council takes the time to properly evaluate that option using accurate costings and realistic funding assumptions, rather than working on the presumption the council must pay for everything themselves.”
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council told the LDRS: “Thank you to all the local residents who took the time to attend the non-statutory pre-consultation meeting at Calderwood Primary regarding potential school catchments changes recently.
“The pre-consultation process aims to make sure the local community is informed of the options under consideration, and acknowledge and address their views of the options.
“The meeting was well-attended by local residents, and all their views will help inform the proposals that will be put forward for the legally-required statutory consultation phase planned for early next year.
“Anyone not able to attend our in-person meetings can still make sure their views are heard as part of the pre-consultation process.
“Please visit the link below to find out more , and take part: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/87092/Proposal-to-Review-Non-Denominational-Primary-to-Secondary-School-Alignment-in-the-Livingston-and-Almond-Valley-Core-Development-Area”
Two more public meetings are planned:
– The James Young High School, Monday 8 December 2025, 7-8pm
– Winchburgh Academy, Tuesday 9 December, 7-8pm
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