Thistle Primary Progress Update |
Thursday 20 November 2025 |
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Dear parents, carers and residents
I am writing to you with an update from Renfrewshire Council on school-related matters in the Dargavel area, including on the new Thistle Primary School, on which construction is now starting.
This email is being sent to parents and carers at Dargavel and Bishopton Primary Schools, Dargavel ELCC, and those of you on our Dargavel community email list. |
Thistle Primary School construction |
The new Thistle Primary is being built on land at north end of Craigton Drive and is planned to be open by August 2027. Over recent months, contractors have delivered civil engineering works to prepare the ground, and these are now complete.
Our main contractors BAM Construction have now started to set up on site. Over the coming weeks they will do some initial works — such as drainage connections, piling and foundations — to prepare for the construction of the building starting in the new year.
This means you will see activity. I know BAM are committed to being good neighbours and keeping any disruption to a minimum. They have now written to residents close to the site with details of how to contact them, should you need to. |
What we’re building — see our video |
The new school will be a high-quality building with modern learning facilities and capacity for around 800 pupils. It will also include a full-size 3G sports pitch available for community hire outwith school hours.
Although we have previously shared some images of how the new school will look, we are delighted to now share with you our fly-through video, produced with our architects, which gives an artist’s impression of what parents and the community can look forward to. |
In terms of other construction updates, landowners BAE are still working to fully open the Western Link Road, which runs across the front of the new school site. And since my last update in June, we have of course completed the upgrade of the MUGA and the new drop-off area beside Dargavel Primary School. |
The open dining space in the new school. |
Latest projections and school planning |
We recently published our updated 15-year projections for all Renfrewshire schools, produced in partnership with industry experts.
The latest projections for the Dargavel area cover the current Dargavel Primary School catchment. When Thistle Primary School opens in summer 2027, this catchment will split into two. You can see a map of the two future catchments on the webpage below. |
They show the total number of primary school children projected across Dargavel as a whole will rise gradually, peaking around 1,100 in the early to mid 2030s, and staying within the combined non-denominational capacity of more than 1,300.
Bishopton Primary’s roll is projected to stay around 400 over the next few years (well within the current capacity of 519), then start to fall in around five years. The projections for Park Mains High School show the school could peak at 1,941 in 2033 then gradually tail off, but will stay within the future capacity (once extended) of 2,000.
These latest projections factor in some changes to previous assumptions, including a slower pace of housebuilding than previously expected, which in turn has produced some lower peaks in pupil numbers, spread across a longer period.
We will of course continue to monitor these numbers closely against actual pupil numbers each year and they will continue to inform our planning. You can see the full Renfrewshire-wide projections and accompanying report written for councillors on our website. |
The gym hall in the new school. |
The registration period for those due to start Primary One in Renfrewshire in August 2026 was earlier this month, although you can still register for your catchment school by contacting your local school directly.
As in previous years, we will need to cap the Primary One entry at Dargavel Primary at 75, and there will be a ballot for those places. As per our admissions policy, children with siblings already in the school will be given priority. Those who do not get a place will be accommodated at Bishopton Primary.
We will write to all those registered for Primary One at Dargavel Primary in the coming weeks to explain the process and timescale for this in more detail.
Finally, I am pleased to say we are currently advertising for a head teacher for Thistle Primary. Once in post in the new year, the new head will be key to the planning and recruitment for the school opening, and will work closely with our team at council HQ — as well as Mr Carlton and Mrs McNaught at the other two local schools — to do that.
We will of course continue to keep you updated on all the matters above.
Kind regards
Gerard McLaughlin
Head of Education
Renfrewshire Council |
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