Plans for the creation of an Aberdeenshire secondary school in the region’s fastest-growing town have gained a multi-million-pound boost from the Scottish Government.
Holyrood has pledged £18million towards building the new Inverurie Academy through its “Schools for the Future” programme.
The action forms part of £220million of investment to Scottish schools through the £1.8billion scheme revealed by the government yesterday.
The funding means that construction of the school can now progress, with plans for it to be constructed by 2018.
Announcing the details, first minister Nicola Sturgeon described it a positive news for Scottish education.
She added: “The new Inverurie Academy will be a fantastic, modern building that pupils, teachers and the whole community will enjoy for generations to come.”
Councillors backed the project for a replacement Inverurie Academy on the playing fields of the current facility on Jackson Street last year.
It will have a capacity for 1,600 pupils and include sports facilities, a youth cafe and a swimming pool for the wider community to use.
Aberdeenshire Council co-leader, Martin Kitts-Hayes, said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement today that they will part fund the new Academy in Inverurie.
“We are delighted to be to be able to work with partners to deliver excellent educational facilities for young people across Aberdeenshire.
“We already have experience of successful partnership work in Laurencekirk, Ellon and Alford.”
Chairwoman of the council’s education, learning and leisure committee, Alison Evison, said: “Confirmation of the Scottish Government’s contribution will allow us to go ahead and commence construction on a new academy in Inverurie.”
Gordon MP, Alex Salmond, said: “This is great news for Inverurie and great news for local school pupils.
“Inverurie Academy has served its students and community well over the years, not forgetting the important role it had to play sheltering people during the recent floods.
“However, the current academy has remained relatively unchanged since the 1980s and many of the buildings are nearing the end of their life.
“The new Inverurie Academy will ensure that pupils have the best access to the latest facilities and provide an excellent learning environment for pupils of today and well into the future.”
Local councillor, Bryan Stuart said it was a “huge step forward”, and added: “It is great that the new academy will remain on the same site it has occupied for more than a century.”