First Minister, visits Crichton Campus
Written by author on October 5, 2012
First Minister Alex Salmond has paid a site visit to the Crichton campus in Dumfries, to visit the location of a proposed new school and described the site as going “from strength to strength”.
The school, which is intended for young people aged 15 and over, could be built as part of a package of funding announced last week by Education Secretary Michael Russell.
While at the campus the First Minister met with college and university staff and students based there, as well as representatives of some of the other organisations on-site.
The First Minister said: “The Crichton campus is an impressive example of how sites can transform to meet the changing needs of their communities and businesses – and, having seen it for myself, I can say it would be a fantastic place to go to learn. One of the first decisions taken by this government in 2007 was to intervene to save the Crichton Campus from closure, and I have always had a special affection for this site. Since then it’s gone from strength to strength and is now proposed as the site for the new Crichton school for young people aged 15 and over.
“This would be a new type of school offering exciting possibilities for young people, linking them to further and higher education and job opportunities.
“Having met some of the outstanding students already learning here and having listened to some of the educators inspiring them day in, day out, I can see what an important role this campus fulfils for the community and for future jobs here in Dumfries and the wider region. “I hope it continues to be a place of learning and enterprise for many more years to come.”
The FM met with students from The University of Glasgow, before heading to the University of the West of Scotland where he met medical students.
The FM spent just over an hour on the grounds, he was greeted by Council Leader Ivor Hyslop and members of the Council’s top team and was accompanied by SNP MSP Joan McAlpine.
