The first pupils at the new Daliburgh Primary School (Sgoil Dhalabroig) in South Uist started the academic year today.

While not originally part of the Western Isles Schools Project, Daliburgh Primary School subsequently received funding assistance from the Scottish Futures Trust as part of their 'Schools for the Future' programme and substantial Comhairle funding was approved in late March 2011. Works commenced on site in early May 2011 which will mean that the entire project has been successfully delivered from inception to completion in a period of less than two years.

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Cllr Catriona Stewart, Chair of Education and Children's Services said: "It is down to the hard work of officers, the WISP Board and the Sgoiltean Ùra Board that we have achieved this significant milestone in education provision in the Islands. I wish every success to all pupils and staff in their splendid new surroundings."

A second phase of works, which will see the demolition of the old school and the construction of bus and car parking as well as the completion of all external landscaping will commence in mid August 2012 for completion in December 2012. A full size grass pitch, which also received grant assistance from Sport Scotland, is also under construction with availability scheduled for early 2013.

The new Daliburgh Primary School, which also includes a new community library, is one of six schools comprising the £125m Western Isles Schools Project (WISP) to be successfully handed over on time and budget following the earlier completions of Point, Balivanich and West Side Primary Schools, the first phase of the Sir E Scott School and the completion of the new Nicolson Institute where pupils also attended for the first time today.

(NE)