Pupils ‘dig’ new school facilities
Work has started on a new combined £15.5million primary school, pre-5 and community education facility in Renfrew.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan and Councillor Jacqueline Henry, Convener of the council’s Education Policy Board, donned hard hats and dug in with pupils to celebrate the ‘cutting of the soil’ of the new St James’ Primary School, Moorpark Pre-5 Centre and Community Learning Centre.
The new facilities will mirror the recently opened Park Mains High School in making use of flexible learning spaces to support innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
There will also be opportunities for outdoor learning on the site adjacent to the existing school.
The new school, community learning centre and pre-5 centre will open in April 2014.
Councillor Mark Macmillan said: “The cutting of the soil marks the start of an investment which will boost education and learning for the whole community it will serve. These will be great facilities for current pupils and for future generations.”
Councillor Jacqueline Henry said: “The new school will provide a stimulating educational environment that will better support the new ways of learning and teaching in the 21st century.
You can already sense the enthusiasm of the pupils, staff and the local community who will reap the benefits in the long-term.”
Margaret Convery, head teacher of St James’ Primary, joined pupils at the soil-cutting ceremony. She said: “We are all looking forward to the completion of our new school, community learning centre and pre-5 centre. Pupils and staff are all excited about this development and eager to move into the new building and sample the new facilities.”
The building contract has been awarded to DC Community Partnerships and construction company CBC are the lead contractors for the project.
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