Pupils in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire have been celebrating the opening of their new £44m school.

The building was opened this week and will now be home to Buchanan High School, St Ambrose High School and Townhead Community Centre.

The contract was won by Balfour Beatty. Councillor Jim Logue, Convener of Learning and Leisure Services, said: "Our contractors Balfour Beatty have done a marvellous job and the project has been nominated for national awards - including the prestigious Considerate Constructors National Site Award.

"We are determined to give our young people the best possible start in life and this new campus does just that."

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Ellen Douglas, Head teacher of St Ambrose High School, said: "The campus offers a stimulating, creative environment for our pupils, making high quality learning and teaching possible. It features a wide range of educational facilities as well as considerably enhanced sport and music provision and social areas - all of which our old school sadly lacked."

Margaret Fannon, recently appointed Head teacher of Buchanan High School, added: "I'm really looking forward to starting my new role at the school in such a stunning campus, set in such a beautiful landscape."

Archie Burns, Balfour Beatty's Project Manager, said: "The building has been designed with sustainability very much in mind."

He added: "Early in the construction process we discovered badger setts within the grounds of Drumpellier Country Park - just next to the construction site. Badgers are protected species and so we invited pupils from the schools to help us plant bushes around the setts to give them cover.

"We've been able to recycle around 92% of the waste, which would normally have gone to landfill; and 69% of the material has come from within a 2.5 mile radius of the site."

(IT/GK)