We are still in the land of the Chocolate teapot when it comes to schools!

Something purporting to be good news for Portie High was released by the less than competent SNP/Libdem administration this afternoon. The press release was headed;

"Go ahead for Edinburgh’s Portobello High school"

which sounds great. Sadly the release then went on to confess that its not the go ahead for Portobello at all but "A proposal to invest an estimated £41.5m in a new Portobello High School" that is "the subject of a report to be considered by the City of Edinburgh Council next week". and that its "part of a programme that will be at least 14 years to deliver and will represent a significant challenge". which means that "it is estimated that construction work (on Portobello) would start in 2011/12 with the new school being open in 2013/14".

Which tells us three connected things

1. They don't even have the £41.5m for one building far less the £182m they need for their whole 14 year programme,
2. which means that despite getting more cash from Westminster, the SNP Government is still offering no more cash for Councils
3. which means that the SNPs Scottish (no) Futures Trust (SFT) is still a chocolate teapot of an idea.

So there will be no dancing in the streets of Portie tonight methinks and I wonder if even the conservative estimate of 13/14 opening is achievable given the paucity of cash support from the SNP Government, the dysfunctional nature of the SFT and the incompetence of the SNP/Libdem coalition. Not a combination that gives anyone a great sense of confidence.