A number of local councillors have visited the new £47 million Lochside Academy secondary school, ahead of its official opening next week.

Aberdeen City Council Co Leaders, Councillors Jenny Laing and Douglas Lumsden went on a tour of the new facility along with Education Operational Delivery Convener, Councillor John Wheeler.

The new school will serve the Torry, Kincorth, Cove and Nigg catchment areas, replacing the recently closed Torry and Kincorth Academies.

It will open to students for the new term next Thursday, 23 August.

Councillor Laing said: "The opening of Lochside Academy underlines this Administration's determination to continue to provide high quality educational facilities for our young people right across Aberdeen. This new £47m secondary school has been designed in such a way as to provide both top quality facilities and an intimate and welcoming environment which will help to enhance learning.

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"The new school will not only serve pupils and staff but will be available for use by the wider community and we are confident it will be seen as a welcome addition to the existing facilities in the south of the city."

The new academy boasts facilities including an incorporated dance studio, fitness suite, games hall, six lane swimming pool, an adjacent garden and 3G pitch.

The three-storey school will cater for up to 1,350 pupils from the Torry, Kincorth, Nigg and Cove areas.

Councillor Lumsden commented: "Lochside Academy is a marvellous testament to our £47 million investment and you can see that every penny has been well spent on this fantastic school.

"Aberdeen City Council places enormous emphasis on education and providing the best facilities are a vital cog in our ambitions. Just as important however, are the people who use the facilities. The pupils and staff and indeed, the whole community, could not have done better than to have Neil Hendry as Head Teacher."

Lochside School Head Teacher, Neil Hendry, added: "Next week is going to be a huge day for us when our state-of-the-art building welcomes our pupils and becomes a school. 

"We've been working hard behind the scenes to make sure that, staff, pupils and parents feel welcome here from day one and ensure that we can live up to Lochside's ambitions to inspire individuals and be outstanding together."

(CM/MH)