Pupils at Whitecraig Primary School have started the New Year in a brand-new building, marking a major milestone for the local community.

Staff welcomed children on Wednesday, 7 January, to the modern facility built on land adjacent to the previous school. The new building, with its charcoal grey brick exterior, copper-coloured cladding, and sawtooth-shaped roof, provides eight classrooms and an Early Years centre to meet the needs of a growing school population. A new signalised junction on Whitecraig Road was also created to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Inside, calming and nurturing spaces reflect the local landscape and history, with gentle greens, soft blues and blush pinks, timber dividers, light maple doors, and touches of mustard echoing the school badge. Charcoal and slate finishes honour Whitecraig’s mining heritage.

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Councillor Fiona Dugdale, East Lothian Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s and Family Services, said: "This is a momentous day for the whole Whitecraig community. The closeness of the new school to the existing building has meant that children have been able to keep a close eye on the project’s progress and excitement has been growing as it has neared completion. Being able to step inside their new school and claim it as their own is exciting for them and for staff.

"Congratulations to all of the teams who have been involved in delivering a new Whitecraig Primary School. With modern, efficient spaces fit for high quality learning and teaching, it will benefit the village now and for generations to come."

The £18.5 million project was funded through phase one of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme, administered by Scottish Futures Trust, with Morrison Construction awarded the contract in February 2024.

Work has now begun to safely demolish the old school building and landscape the surrounding grounds.