The first sod has been cut at the site of the new Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh, marking the start of construction work.

The new school is located 500m from the current viewforth building and is expected to open to pupils in August 2016, in time for the 2016/17 academic year. It has been part funded by the Scottish Government's Scotland's Schools for the Future programme, managed by the Scottish Futures Trust.

The new school will feature:

• Teaching areas arranged around a multi-functional 'heart', or atrium

• Traditional classrooms, offering easy access to collaborative break out areas

• Enhanced facilities for physical activity and external learning, including a roof-top multi-use external games area

• A new public park, located along the canal's north bank, and adjacent to the new build. This will help create a vibrant public space next to the waterway and towpath.

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Councillor Paul Godzik, Education, Children and Families Convener, said: "It's great to see the first phase of construction work starting on the new school as pupils, parents and teachers have been waiting a long time for this special day.

"Boroughmuir has a first-class academic track record, and the focus is now firmly on delivering a new school that provides an equally impressive learning environment."

Dr Alasdair Allan, Scottish Government Minister for Learning, added: "I was delighted to perform the sod cutting at Boroughmuir High School to officially mark the start of construction of what will be a fantastic new school for the area.

"The Scottish Government is committed to delivering high quality, well designed, sustainable schools through the £1.8 billion Scotland's Schools for the Future programme and I'm pleased we could provide more than £17 million funding for this project.

"I'm particularly impressed by the ambitious plans for this new school and I'm confident it will provide an excellent environment for young people to learn in for generations to come."

Cathal O'Hare, Contracts Manager for O'Hare and McGovern, commented: "We want to provide a building of which staff, pupils and parents can be really proud. The school has had a long and distinguished tradition. It is so much part of the area's social history and we want to make sure future generations will benefit from a first class educational facility."

(JP/IT)