Children, teachers, parents and guests gathered at Patna Primary on a sunny Friday 13th – but there was no sign of bad luck, as they celebrated the start of construction work on their groundbreaking new primary school.

The new-build will replace, on a single site, Patna Primary School, Nursery Class and Supported Learning Centre and St Xavier’s Primary School. The building will also include an integrated community centre and library.

Welcoming Adam Ingram, newly-elected MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, to cut the turf, Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: "In bringing together two important schools serving the community, we are doing something new in East Ayrshire and this part of the world"

A boy and a girl from each school buried time capsules and Chloe McDerment of Patna Primary read out her poem “Countdown for Old and New Schools”, which was very well received and which will be displayed in the new school.

The nursery, playgrounds, dining hall, gym hall, science room, music and drama room, staff room, parents’ room, medical suite and IT suite in the new building will be shared by children and teachers of both schools. The only facilities that the schools will use separately will be the classrooms.

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Construction period is for approximately 14 months, with completion scheduled for mid-June 2012, allowing operation in time for the new term beginning in August 2012.

Councillor Douglas Reid said: “We will be providing a unique, modern community asset of which all can be proud and which I know will act as a magnet for new population and focus for regeneration in the Doon Valley.

“I am particularly pleased that Adam Ingram MSP was able to perform this ceremony. I know Adam has had a lifelong interest in the support of children with learning difficulties and it is therefore very appropriate that he is with us at the school, which includes a specific facility for children with additional support needs.”

Adam Ingram said: “It’s an absolute delight to be here to perform my very first official duty as MSP for the area. I hope I’ll be invited back to talk to the children in the future and it will be a delight to do so in the new shared campus.

“This new development is a boost to regeneration in the area, which I hope will bring even more people to come and live in Patna.”

Councillor Jim Roberts, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, added: “This is a landmark project with the ambition of bringing two separate schools together into one shared campus. It will foster and develop relationships between children and the wider community, whilst retaining a strong sense of educational identity.”

Graham Short, Executive Director of Educational and Social Services, commented: “The new Patna/St Xavier’s shared campus is a significant event in the life of education in East Ayrshire. We have maintained contact with the local community throughout and everyone has whole-heartedly welcomed this exciting, positive project.”

(GK/KMcA)