£5.8m specialist school for vulnerable children completed in Kinross

The new Seamab Care and Education school in Kinross replaces an outdated building which no longer met the needs of the 25 young people aged five to 18 it supports. Seamab has provided residential care and specialist education since it was founded in 1962, but the converted house was no longer fit for purpose.

With no UK or Scottish Government funding available for independent schools such as Seamab when undertaking a capital project of this nature, the new school was funded by the generosity of individuals, grant-making trusts and companies that came together to support the campaign.
Following an 18-month construction programme led by Algo, young people were introduced to their new school – a modern, integrated care, therapy and education campus – in early March.

The old building lacked basic facilities, with no assembly area, gymnasium or dining space. Children ate their meals at their desks, classrooms were former bedrooms and therefore small and inadequate, corridors were dark and narrow, and ventilation and air quality were poor.

The new building includes a multi-purpose gym hall for dining and physical activity, six trauma-informed classrooms with nearby quiet spaces, specialist rooms for creative and practical learning, a state-of-the-art preparation kitchen, and light-filled circulation areas that double as reading and play spaces. Learning is also supported through landscaped play and sports areas.

Stuart Provan, Seamab’s chief executive, said: “Seeing the architect’s drawings become reality with spaces designed around how our children learn best, is incredibly moving. This building will help our young people feel safe, regulate, and re-engage with learning. It simply would not exist without an exceptionally generous community of supporters across Scotland and the UK. We are profoundly grateful.

“Operating a school without basic areas such as a dining hall, assembly space, library or gym made calm, focused learning very challenging. The new environment removes those barriers and enables calmer classrooms and better readiness to learn, with flexible spaces for whole-class, small-group and one-to-one support without stigma. The increased space will allow us to deliver a broader primary and secondary curriculum, while improving attendance, engagement, attainment and wellbeing.”

The fundraising campaign was led by trustee and former chair Chris Stewart, CEO of the Chris Stewart Group, and patron Gerard Eadie CBE, founder of CR Smith, with support from a UK-wide community of business leaders, charitable trusts, foundations and individual philanthropists.

Local businesses also contributed time and expertise, including Scottish Gas volunteers who helped move furniture into the new school. Members of the construction project team also provided significant services free of charge.

The new school is expected to benefit more than 2,000 children and community users over the building’s projected 40-year lifespan.

Planning permission was secured in February 2022, with the journey starting more than five years ago.

Stuart added: “This school has been built by a community of donors, funders, volunteers, neighbours and partners, all united by the belief that children who have had a difficult start in life deserve the very best. Their generosity is literally built into these walls, and the impact will be felt for decades.

“Feedback from pupils and staff has been outstanding. One young person told us, ‘I feel like it’s the end of a chapter and the start of a new book.’ Staff describe the new school as ‘a wonderful space’ where children can ‘heal, grow and learn to thrive’.”

As pupils settle into the new school, the old building will be demolished and landscaping of the site will begin, including a multi-use games area and outdoor equipment to support sport, play and learning.

Seamab will host a series of opening and celebration events throughout the year to thank supporters and welcome the wider community.