Construction work has commenced on the new Portobello High School in Edinburgh.

After a lengthy period of discussions and setbacks, work was approved to begin earlier this year after Edinburgh Council successfully took a Private Bill to the Scottish Parliament. This allowed the local authority to appropriate Portobello Park for educational purposes. The school is being built in the grounds of the park.

When completed, the new facility will cater for 1,400 pupils. It will provide state-of-the-art teaching facilities, indoor and outdoor sports facilities – including a swimming pool and two all-weather pitches – which will be available for the local community to use outside of school hours. A new £1m park will also be constructed on the existing school site.

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Councillor Paul Godzik, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: "This is a key milestone in the Portobello project and many people in the local area will be delighted to see work finally starting on their new high school.

"Rebuilding Portobello High School is one of the Capital Coalition's highest priorities and we were determined to ensure we met this commitment. I look forward to seeing the new school which will open its doors to pupils in August 2016."

Murray Easton, Balfour Beatty Regional Managing Director for Scotland, added: "We are delighted to be starting construction of the new Portobello High School. We look forward to continuing to work with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver a state-of-the-art school with educational facilities that give people the best opportunities to both teach and learn.

"During the construction period we will engage with the local community to keep them updated with the progress of the works and to deliver community benefit targets leaving a lasting legacy for the area."

(JP/CD)