Dundee City council Education Convener Liz Fordyce today welcomed confirmation that the complete redevelopment and refurbishment of Harris Academy will go ahead as planned following investment from the Scottish Government through the Scottish Futures Trust.

Councillor Fordyce said: "This is exciting news for the whole of the Harris school community and represents a massive investment in the long term future of the school.

"I am pleased that the Scottish Government has recognised our case for investment by placing the Harris in the first batch of new schools to secure funding through the Scottish Futures Trust.

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"This is a resoundingly positive outcome and we will continue to work together with parents and teachers to deliver the best possible school for current and future generations of pupils at the Harris."

Construction work on the Harris Academy project will be progressed through a new Scottish Government sponsored procurement consortium, the East Central Territory Hub.

The Scottish Government will fund two-thirds of the capital cost of the redevelopment with the city council making up the remainder.

The city council's contribution to the overall cost of the Harris building programme has already been programmed for in its capital plan.

Councillor Fordyce said: "We are now ready to move ahead with this project and the bulk of over £31 million spending will be committed by the 2013/14 financial year."

(GK)