Developing Winchburgh Schools Partnership

Developing Winchburgh Schools Partnership is an innovative pilot programme that gives Scottish school pupils the opportunity to become involved in the development of their village. The 16-week course is a collaboration between Winchburgh Developments Limited, West Lothian College and Winchburgh Academy, and gives pupils a detailed insight into all the work that goes into placemaking. The 57 pupils, the first to attend Winchburgh Academy after the opening of the school in August 2022, were given practical insights into what it takes to work in the jobs required to deliver a vast masterplan like that in their home village. They heard from key experts working daily on the project, who demonstrated the breadth and types of roles that contribute to making Winchburgh’s vision a reality. The programme gave pupils career ideas and insight into many different professions, including planners, lawyers, architects, ecologists, and engineers. School groups attended a variety of sites under construction and took part in in-school discussions with representation from more than 15 different professions. Due to the success of the pilot, the second edition of the programme will be expanded and rolled out to pupils at both Winchburgh Academy and the newly-opened Sinclair Academy later this year.