Shetland Islands Council has provided residents with an update on work to complete a new high school and halls of residence.

A funding application for the Anderson High School and associated Hall of Residence was submitted to the Scottish Government on 2012. The bid was confirmed as successful by Cabinet Secretary Mike Russell.

Head of Schools Infrastructure Unit Jonathan Moore has written to Shetland Islands Council confirming the project will be revenue funded.

He emphasised the project could begin construction within the next 12-18 months.

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Scottish Futures Trust has organised several visits for councillors and senior officers to similar new school projects on the Scottish Mainland.

Funding and procurement arrangements are currently being discussed, in order to determine how best to deliver the completed project.

Shetland is expected to work with six other northern local authorities that are also building new schools through the Hub North Scotland while attempting to minimise costs and sharing of practice.

Representatives of Hub North Scotland will be visiting Shetland on 29 and 30 November and meeting with Council officers, councillors and representatives of the construction industry to discuss local contractor involvement in the supply chain.

Officers from the government’s Schools Infrastructure Unit have recently visited Shetland to discuss matters regarding the School Estate. The Council says they were particularly interested in the current Anderson High School building and how it is being and will be maintained in the interim.

(IT/GK)