EDUCATION bosses are hosting a series of events next month as they draw up proposals for replacing four secondary schools in the Borders.

In November a four-way contest was launched to determine whether Peebles, Galashiels, Selkirk or Hawick should be the next town to follow Jedburgh in receiving a state-of-the-art learning campus.

Members of the local authority's ruling administration agreed for detailed assessments to be carried out with each town being scored on the need for a replacement secondary building as well as catchment primaries, and the community benefits each would bring by having a new campus.

Education director Donna Manson told us: "All of these communities would like a new building and have been inspired by the success of the Jedburgh consultation and outcome.

"The only way to address this matter in a fair way is to carry out a deep assessment of each of the schools, with a specific focus on suitability, condition, capacity and links to the intergenerational and community benefits."

Across the Scottish Borders new secondary schools have been built in Duns, Eyemouth, Earlston and Kelso over the past 15 years.

And preparation work is well underway to deliver the intergenerational campus in Jedburgh which will host all of the town's nursery and primary education provision as well as Jedburgh Grammar School.

All four of the remaining high schools - Galashiels Academy, Selkirk High, Hawick High and Peebles High - are in need of being replaced.

And many of the primary schools in each of their catchment areas are also crammed and outdated.

It is hoped to be able to deliver the new campuses in each town over the next 10 to 15 years.

But the order has yet to be decided.

As well as officers looking at the suitability, condition and capacity of each school, the readiness and opportunities within each community to deliver a visionary campus are also being considered.

Public engagement meetings will take place at Galashiels Academy on Tuesday March 6 from 2.15pm to 8pm, Selkirk High on Tuesday, March 20 from 2.15pm to 8pm, Hawick High on Wednesday, March 21 from 2.15pm to 8pm, and Peebles High on Monday, March 26 from 2.15pm to 8pm.

An online survey will also go live on Scottish Borders Council’s website from March 6 for anyone who attended the meetings.

Councillor Carol Hamilton, SBC’s executive member for children and young people, said: “There has been a great deal of interest and excitement generated about the future of these four high schools with pupils, staff and local communities already thinking about what they might like to put forward for consideration.

“What we now need is for everyone to come along to these events to share their ideas with us.

"It will also be a chance for them to speak to officers about the information that has been collected so far and hear more about the opportunities that could be available to them in terms of shaping the vision for secondary provision in their communities.”

Following the consultation and assessments proposals for replacing schools will be tabled at a meeting of Scottish Borders Council in May.