Construction work has started on a new £50 million education facility in North Ayrshire.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science cut the first turf at the new Largs Campus site.

Ms Somerville was joined at the sod-cutting by young people from the schools represented in the new state-of-the-art facility.

The new school campus will incorporate a new early years centre, a relocated Largs Academy, a relocated St Mary's RC Primary School and amalgamated Brisbane and Kelburn Primary schools.

The new campus will also see a further strengthening of the Council's partnership with sportscotland – the new campus will sit adjacent to their Inverclyde base – providing pupils with access to their first-class sporting facilities.

The partnership with sportscotland supports the Council's vision that North Ayrshire's young people will get every opportunity to attain, achieve and develop the skills necessary to live positive and fulfilling lives.

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The facility will provide an environment for learning for 1200 Secondary school pupils, 210 denominational Primary pupils, 610 non-denominational Primary pupils and 100 Early Years places, as well as core leisure and community provision to the surrounding area. 

Councillor John Bruce,  Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Employment, said: "This is a fantastic day for Largs and the cluster area. 

"It has taken a lot of work just to get to this stage and it's great to see that work on the Campus is progressing. We've spoken to many parents and every one of them is excited about the opportunities the new school will bring for their children.

"We are making massive strides in terms of our educational attainment and facilities like this one, and the new campus being developed in the Garnock Valley, will only help our young people realise their potential.

"As a former teacher myself, I would love to have worked with the young people in such modern and ambitious facilities. This will be a flagship 21st century school which can only only heighten their capacity for learning."

The Council will continue to support the environment with their work at the Campus.

A  biomass boiler will be installed and sustainable/green travel to the facility will be supported through improvements to local pedestrian and cycle pathways, and the provision of new cycle and scooter storage facilities on the Campus for all pupils, staff and visitors to use.

Maximising the natural daylight throughout the Campus will create bright, attractive spaces which fully support the functions they are designed for.

(MH/CD)