Construction company Robertson Limited has held a sod cutting ceremony to mark the official start of work on the new replacement Riverbank School in Tillydrone.

The new school, which is due for completion in summer 2023 is being built partly on the site of its predecessor and on part of the St Machar School site and will increase local Primary School capacity to cater for families moving to new housing developments in the area as well as offering 100 new Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) places.

Aberdeen City Council’s Education Operational Delivery Convener, Councillor M Tauqeer Malik, said: "(The) ceremony sees the beginning of a new chapter in the local community and our ongoing commitment to putting learning and empowerment in at the heart of communities across the city through the provision of a modern schools' estate.

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"Once completed our new school will provide a capacity for a total of 651 pupils, a 3G seven-a-side football pitch and external outdoor play and learning facilities.

"We have also ensured that the design of the new school is flexible in order to respond to any possible changes in the needs of the pupils, community or in the local demographic profile in future."

Gordon Milne, regional managing director, Robertson Construction Eastern, which is delivering the new learning environment at Tillydrone through Scottish Procurement Alliance framework said: "As the construction delivery partner of choice, we are pleased to continue our on-going relationship with Aberdeen City Council as it realises its ambitions of putting learning and empowerment at the heart of communities.

"As part of our commitment throughout the build, we will continue to engage with pupils, staff, parents and the wider community as we deliver this important project that will be enjoyed by many for years to come."

Councillor Marie Boulton, convener of Capital Programme Committee, said: "We have invested tens of millions in new schools in recent years with a further £23 million being invested in nursery settings as part of our commitment to deliver first class educational facilities across the city which will give our young people the best starts in life.

"The new replacement Riverbank School will not only be a school to accommodate the changing demographics of the area, but it will also be a first-rate community asset for this generation and future generations."