Royal appointment at Isobel Mair school

East Renfrewshire's newest school welcomed a special guest today.

For His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex visited the new Isobel Mair School and family Centre in Newton Mearns.
During the visit to East Renfrewshire’s only school for children with additional support needs, Prince Edward was treated to a display of wheelchair Scottish country dancing as pupils performed their ‘reels on wheels’.

His Royal Highness was escorted throughout the visit by head teacher Mari Wallace and the school’s ‘head man’ 17-year old Fabio Ramaglioni.

The school has three teaching areas, a life skills centre set out as a house where young people can learn life skills including looking after a home, ironing, cooking, making the bed.

The new school building cost £12.1m and with a school roll of132 caters for pupils ranging from 3 – 18 years old.
The school has 16 classrooms in the main building and 3 rooms in the Family Centre. The Mod is the school’s main hall and is used for PE, dance, drama, assemblies and social gatherings.
During his visit Prince Edward joined former commonwealth gymnast Steve Frew as he led a PE session with pupils in The Mod.

The school also boasts a hydrotherapy and splash pool with onsite changing facilities. Their outdoor learning areas including Muga (multi purpose outdoor games area), cycle track, play equipment, Atrium and Sensory Garden. Corrie House, another of the school’s unique features, is independent of the main school and is a fully furnished 2 bedroom apartment where pupils can learn essential life skills.

The school joined the national Jubilee celebrations by showcasing the work of pupils researching key points in Her Majesty The Queen’s life and compiling a Diamond Jubilee Quiz.

And Prince Edward planted a tree and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the work of Isobel Mair pupils in planting a special ‘Jubilee wood’ in the grounds of the school.