Construction of a new replacement primary school in Aberdeenshire is to commence next month.

The school, in Drumoak, would accommodate 145 pupils as well as an additional 30 children in the pre-school nursery. The design includes six classrooms, a double badminton court sports hall with showers and changing accommodation, a general purpose room, a library and fully equipped kitchen. In addition, office accommodation for the school management and admin support staff will be located adjacent to a controlled entrance, while each classroom will have access to internal "break-out space" for supervised group activity and direct access to a hard landscaped external space for outdoor activities.

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The project has been designed to be energy efficient, and sustainable photovoltaic solar panels will be installed on the roof, while a biomass-fuelled boiler will provide heating and hot water requirements.

Access to the site will be made available from a new housing development located just to the north of the land, and staff and visitor car parking, plus pupil drop-off have been carefully designed next to the school entrance. The external play space – which includes an all-weather sports pitch – will lie between the school and the south boundary of the site.

The contractor appointed to the project has been named as Robertson Eastern Limited and it is hoped the development will be completed and handed over by the end of May 2015.

Welcoming the news, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Isobel Davidson, said: "A new primary school for Drumoak has been a high priority for this council and the education service for many years, and it's great to see that construction will begin shortly.

"This new school is truly a school fit for the future with excellent design to reduce heating and hot water costs, to accommodate the growing population in the village of Drumoak and the surrounding area."

(JP/IT)