Around 1,100 pupils will take up residence in their new purpose built school this week as the new Grangemouth High School opens its doors for the first time.
The school is the first in a series of four new replacement schools at a cost of £115m being built across the Falkirk Council area funded through a Not For Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) model.
The school features state-of-the-art facilities and teaching equipment including a swimming pool; an all weather sports pitch and three grass pitches; a dance/fitness suite; a gym and sports hall and; a drama and stage area.
Incorporated into the design of the school are many innovative features such as such as an environmental garden; a sustainable rainwater harvesting system providing water to the toilet blocks; 'brise soleil' which acts as an external sun block to help prevent solar glare.
Pupils have also been involved in the completion of the school with the design of new school gates into the pupil courtyard area.
Dr Alex Waddell, Convener of Education and Leisure said: "The building is an amazing addition to our school estate and will undoubtedly benefit both pupils and staff with its first class facilities.
"The previous building had come to the end of its working life however when the remaining three schools are completed, we can say that we have a modern learning environment for all our secondary pupils.
"Delivering the project via NPDO and on timetable is a major achievement and it means that from early February the local community in Grangemouth will be able access its many facilities outwith school hours for sports, leisure and other uses."
Lyn Brown, Grangemouth High's headteacher said: "Pupils and staff have looked forward to the opening for a long time and I am pleased to see all of our dreams finally coming true.
"The new school is magnificent and offers better opportunities to expand our teaching and make pupils experiences far more rewarding.
"I would like thank everyone for their patience in getting to where we are and in particular, John Derrick who oversaw the project for this school from the outset and for his hard work in helping to deliver this project for the entire Grangemouth community."
All of the new schools will incorporate innovative design with a strong sustainability element that will act as a natural 'focal point' for their communities and will provide a safe and stimulating environment for staff and pupils.
(GK/JM)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
15/11/2024
A major milestone has been reached in the UK's transition to a greener energy future. Ofgem has approved the Eastern Green Link 1 project, a £2.5 billion investment that will see the installation of a 196km subsea electricity cable between Scotland and England. The project, a joint venture between ...
15/11/2024
Falkirk Council has secured a £100 million Growth Deal that is expected to create 1,660 jobs and generate £628 million in economic benefits for the area. The Deal, signed by the UK and Scottish Governments, will fund 11 projects, including: • A Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Centre • A Bioeconomy ...
15/11/2024
The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has raised concerns that the measures announced in the Autumn Budget could lead to the demise of the plant hire industry in Scotland. The association argues that the increased tax burden and other economic pressures will have a significant negative ...
15/11/2024
Maxi Construction has been awarded a £1.6 million contract by The City of Edinburgh Council to replace the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) roof at Pentland Primary School. The phased project will involve the removal of existing roof coverings and ceilings, the replacement of RAAC ...
15/11/2024
Clark Contracts has been awarded a contract to retrofit Scotland's National Retrofit Centre at BE-ST's Innovation Campus. The project aims to transform the building into a living laboratory, showcasing best practices in non-domestic retrofit. The ambitious project will involve a range of ...
15/11/2024
The Scottish Government has announced plans to bypass the villages of Springholm and Crocketford on the A75, a key route linking Scotland to Ireland. Jacobs UK Ltd has been awarded a contract to undertake initial design and assessment work for the bypass. The project is funded by the UK ...
15/11/2024
Dundee City Council has secured a £693,383 grant from the Scottish Government's Recycling Improvement Fund to upgrade its recycling facilities at Baldovie and Riverside. The funding will be used to purchase new waste management equipment, such as roll packers and compactors, to improve efficiency ...
15/11/2024
Homes for Good and Glasgow Credit Union have formed a partnership to address housing inequality in Glasgow and neighbouring areas. Glasgow Credit Union has provided a £2.4 million loan to Homes for Good, which will be used to purchase up to 35 homes for low-income individuals and families. The ...
15/11/2024
The historic Troon station has reopened following a £5m restoration project. The station was extensively damaged by a fire in 2021. Network Rail, in partnership with AmcoGiffen and CPMS, undertook the rebuild, which included the restoration of the station's iconic façade while incorporating modern ...
15/11/2024
BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is undertaking emergency works on the A828 between Ledaig and Benderloch to address a safety concern related to a deteriorating rock face. Recent monitoring has identified a fractured rock mass 60 metres above the road, requiring urgent attention. To ...