Two special events have taken place to mark key milestones at the sites of two new primary schools campus projects

Contractors Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure invited pupils, teachers and councillors to join members of the project team on to both construction sites to enjoy a host of festivities.

Pupils sang Christmas carols and were given a glimpse of what their finished schools would like through the use of virtual-reality headsets.

The first event took place next to Dunrobin primary school on Petersburn Road - the new building will provide a new home for Petersburn and Dunrobin primary schools, which are merging.

Then, just over a mile away, on South Biggar Road, a second event took place at the site of the new Tollbrae and St Edward's primary schools joint campus.

Christmas tree lights were switched on at the Dunrobin/Petersburn site and a time capsule was planted in the grounds of the St Edwards and Tollbrae site.

Provost Jean Jones said: "It's an exciting time of year for everyone but even more so for pupils and staff at all the schools involved who are looking forward to moving to their new schools next year."

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The Dunrobin and Petersburn primary school will comprise of a £17.3 million two-storey curved building which is being delivered as a tandem build on field space beside the existing Dunrobin Primary. The new facility will have a 484 capacity and include a nursery and learning support unit.

Following the building's completion, a second phase of the project will see the existing school demolished to expand the new facility's playground and parking facilities. A new synthetic sports pitch will also be installed.

Similarly, St Edward's and Tollbrae - currently located in adjacent buildings on South Biggar Road - will relocate into a new £17.9 million school that is being built on the existing playing fields.

This joint campus building will have two classroom wings connected by a shared gym, along with a dining hall and multi-purpose rooms to accommodate the combined 342 and 217 pupil intakes. The building will house 20 classrooms set over two floors, along with two nurseries, providing 85 nursery places.

The old schools will then be demolished, with car parking to be constructed where Tollbrae currently stands and a floodlit synthetic pitch laid on the existing St Edward's site.

The contracts, which have a combined value of £35 million, were awarded to Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure by North Lanarkshire Council through its Schools and Centres 21 framework. 

Both facilities are due to be completed and ready for use by spring 2019.

Stuart Parker, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure in Scotland said: "We're incredibly pleased to be working with North Lanarkshire Council on building what we're sure will be a lasting legacy for education in the area, and it's great to mark these construction milestones with festive celebrations."