The demolition gang was out in force in Caithness this week as work began on a former school.
The pupils of North Primary in Wick have already made their way over to a new building nearby – and soon, their old home will be no more.
The contract to demolish the school was awarded to MGL Demolition from Newcastle and the site, when cleared, will accommodate parking and bus bays and a sports area, for the new Noss School nearby.
When the new project was announced, Gail Ross, then civic leader for Caithness and now an MSP, a former pupil of North Primary School, said: “Everyone is looking forward to the day when the school opens, providing the communities to the north of the River Wick with the very best environment in which to learn. I am quite sure that both school communities will come together and flourish in the new building.”
Although the new property is seen as a “super school” and has been generally welcomed, it has not been without its teething troubles.
In May, hundreds of pupils were evacuated from the new £15million primary school after a hot water pipe burst.
Pupils were sent home at lunchtime after the incident caused “significant water damage” to the building.
The 14-classroom school, which opened in April after a series of delays, replaced North primary, which had 161 pupils, and Hillhead primary, which had a school roll of 148.
The project was delivered by Aberdeen-based partnership hub North Scotland on behalf of Highland Council, with construction work being carried out by Morrison Construction.
The super-school is part of a major £50million investment in the town’s education infrastructure.
Staff and pupils could move into the £48.5million Wick Community Campus by Christmas, according to a local councillor.
The project was scheduled to open after the October holidays – it was initially earmarked for completion in 2014 – but fresh delays rendered it unlikely to open until next year.
