Work under way on new Thistle Primary School

Construction is now under way on the new Thistle Primary School being built in Dargavel Village.

The new school will open in summer 2027 with capacity for around 800 pupils, and will include modern facilities for wider community use, including a full-size floodlit football pitch.

Building work started on the new school before Christmas and has progressed well – with foundations now in place, and the steel frame of the building to be installed soon.

The project is being delivered by Renfrewshire Council, in partnership with HubWest Scotland, with BAM Construction as the main contractor.

Once complete it will also include an outdoor play facility, multi-use games area, community garden, and rooms available for local groups to hire.

Pupils from the nearby Dargavel Early Learning and Childcare Centre were on hand to help senior staff break ground on the project.

They were joined by Cllr Emma Rodden, convener of the council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, and Janie O’Neill, the council’s Director of Children’s Services.

Also meeting the children was David Rigmand – current head teacher of Wallace Primary in Elderslie – who will soon take up post as the first head teacher of Thistle Primary School, and who will lead on planning for the new school opening.

Cllr Rodden said: “It was wonderful to see how much progress has already been made on the new Thistle Primary School, and given the school is for future generations, it was fitting we had some children from the local nursery along to mark the occasion.

“Thistle Primary School is just one of several projects we are currently delivering across Renfrewshire as we transform our facilities for pupils, staff and wider communities.

“That includes the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus which will open this summer, the extension to and redesign of Park Mains High School, which will be the associated secondary school for Thistle Primary, and future investment planed at Trinity High in Renfrew and at Johnstone High and Johnstone’s primary schools.”

Janie O’Neill added: “The designs for Thistle Primary School were shaped by community feedback, and the building will be a great facility for the whole Dargavel community, with sports facilities and spaces that can be used at evenings and weekends.

“It will also be a bright and modern building with 21^st-century education facilities in which future generations of pupils will love learning, and in which I know our staff will love teaching.”

And David Rigmand said: “Thistle Primary represents an exciting new chapter for education in the community, and I am proud and privileged to be leading this journey.

“My ambition is to build a school with a strong sense of belonging and a clear identity, where high-quality learning and high expectations sit at the heart of everything we do.

“I look forward to shaping this journey alongside our children, staff, families and partners, creating a culture in which everyone feels valued and thrives together.”

Chief Executive Officer of hub West Scotland, Iain Marley: “This is a significant milestone for Dargavel Village, and we’re proud to be supporting the delivery of a modern, sustainable learning environment that will serve pupils, staff, and the community for many years to come.

“As the project progresses, we’ll be working closely with Renfrewshire Council and our partners to deliver a meaningful programme of community benefits for the local area.

“The commitments made for Thistle Primary will support the creation of six new jobs and six new apprenticeships within the Renfrewshire area, alongside an anticipated £10 million of investment with local SMEs. There will also be contribution through a range of community and volunteering activities designed to add long term value beyond the build itself.”

Paul Carle, Construction Director at BAM, added: “We are proud to commence construction on this new school and to partner Renfrewshire Council and Hub West Scotland in delivering a modern learning environment that will serve future generations.”

The entrance to the school will be from the new Western Link Road, built by landowners BAE Systems, and due to be opened soon. The school site backs on to Dargavel’s Central Park, and will be easy to reach via the path network, already constructed.

The name Thistle Primary School was chosen last year after a community vote. The new school is needed to meet demand as Dargavel Village grows in the years ahead.

The new catchment for the school was agreed after public consultation in 2024 and will see the current catchment for Dargavel Primary School split into two – with Thistle Primary covering the north of the development, and Dargavel Primary the south.

More information on the new school is available at: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/thistle-primary