The turf has been cut at the site of the new Inverness Academy, signalling the start of construction works. The £34m Inverness Royal Academy campus is being delivered as part of the Highland Council's modern schools building programme.

The new school will replace the current Inverness Royal Academy school with a new facility that will provide a modern learning environment capable of meeting the needs of current and future pupils, as well as providing greater provision for local community use outside of school hours.

The school will have 39 practical, 40 non-practical and five tutorial classrooms. A further six classrooms have been provided in order to accommodate subjects that will be taught in Gaelic. A total of 1,420 pupils will be catered for at the new school.

With regards to the community facilities, an additional games hall be constructed, plus a fitness suite, dance studio, gymnasium and two synthetic turf pitches. The pitches will be built on the site of the existing Inverness Royal Academy site, while Additional Support Needs (ASN) accommodation will be increased in order to improve the educational experience for ASN pupils. It will offer a calm and positive learning environment as well as full access to the rest of the school.

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In addition, the new school's main central teaching, social and administration block will be bounded by sports facilities, and the expanded Additional Support Needs and Autism Spectrum Disorder department. An energy centre/bin storage building, new outdoor learning facilities, a wetlands habitat, trim track, sensory and growing gardens, and improvements to the public areas will also be included in the development.

It is anticipated that the new facilities will open in May 2016.

Attending the turf cutting ceremony, Councillor Alasdair Christine, Chair of the Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, said: "The new school build at Inverness Royal Academy is a huge investment and major boost to the local community and economy. It will also provide major support for the further development of Gaelic Education and improved provision for pupils with Additional Support Needs."

Minister for Learning, Alasdair Allan, added: "The Scottish Government is committed to delivering good quality, well designed, sustainable schools through the Schools for the Future programme. I'm delighted we could contribute £18 million pounds to the construction of the new Inverness Royal Academy and I'm confident it will provide an excellent learning environment for pupils and be enjoyed by generations to come. The new school and its facilities will be a fantastic addition to the local community and I look forward to seeing it when it is completed in 2016."

(JP/MH)