Thursday November 12th 2026
Lasswade High School
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Midlothian Council has chosen Lasswade High School as the preferred location for a new specialist facility for children and young people with severe and complex medical needs.
The decision was agreed at a meeting of full council, following an assessment of four potential sites across the county.
The provision was originally planned as part of the replacement Beeslack Community High School project.
However, councillors agreed earlier this year that it should be moved to a more central location to make it easier for families from across Midlothian to access.
Other sites considered included Hawthornden Primary School, land near Burnbrae Primary School and Dalkeith Schools Community Campus.
Council officers recommended Lasswade High School because of its accessibility, transport links and suitability for a purpose-built specialist facility.
The decision will allow the council to progress to the next stage of design work and begin the process of appointing a contractor to design and build the new provision.
A further report will be presented to councillors once the tender process has been completed.
Before the facility can be established, the council must also carry out a formal public consultation in line with national legislation, giving families, school communities and other interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposals.
The project will be funded from the budget originally allocated to the replacement Beeslack High School development. It will now proceed as a standalone capital project while remaining part of wider investment in Midlothian’s school estate.
Councillor Ellen Scott, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This is an important step forward in providing modern, purpose-built facilities for children and young people with severe and complex medical needs.
“By choosing Lasswade High School we can create a specialist environment which, being more centrally located, will hopefully cut travelling time for some of our most vulnerable pupils and will be easier for families across Midlothian to access while ensuring pupils receive the support they need to thrive.
“There is still work to do, including a formal consultation and further design development, but this decision allows us to move ahead with planning a facility that will support some of our most vulnerable learners for many years to come.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
News
